Ex-New York Times Editor Apologizes to Palin at Defamation Trial

Former New York Times opinion editor James Bennet offered a tearful apology to Sarah Palin during a federal defamation trial, admitting he 'blew it' by erroneously linking her political action committee to a 2011 mass shooting that wounded Rep. Gabby Giffords. The 2017 editorial at the center of the case suggested Palin's PAC contributed to an atmosphere of violence, a claim the Times quickly corrected, acknowledging it was an honest mistake. Bennet's emotional testimony, where he reiterated his regret and apologized directly to Palin, comes as the Times faces the lawsuit for a second time after an appeals court revived the case due to errors in the earlier trial. Despite the apology, Palin appeared unmoved and questioned the significance given the time elapsed since the incident. The case highlights ongoing debates about media responsibility and the impact of editorial errors on public figures' reputations. The trial is proceeding in a media landscape marked by declining public trust and heightened scrutiny of press conduct.