First Up: Conservatives tussle on Twitter over defamation bill

A Republican Florida House member and the editor of one of the state’s new conservative news sites tussled on Twitter over a measure pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to make it easier to prove defamation against news publishers. Florida’s Voice tweeted that “92.5 FOX News owner says station will shut down if bill making it easier to sue for defamation passes,” the owner saying the bill “creates too much liability for our business to continue.”

The site’s editor, Brendon Leslie, commented that a “bill with good intentions will boomerang back into our faces - which is a terrible day for free speech.” State Rep. Alex Andrade, the Pensacola Republican carrying the bill (HB 991) soon weighed in, saying among other things that the station owner was “absolutely” wrong about the legislation. 

Leslie shot back that the bill “weakens the little guys and not so sure it will even last in court but whatever.” Andrade, a lawyer, kept going: “… (F)orgive me for saying your legal analysis is bad…” Leslie countered that it will engender “FRIVOLOUS lawsuits” and “embolden my enemies to test the waters with your crappy bill and take me to court in hopes it hurts me financially.” 

Here’s the rest. Andrade: “I’ll represent you on a contingency fee for every frivolous lawsuit filed. THATS how confident I am that you’re wrong.” Leslie: “I hope I am.” Andrade: “I know you are.”

– Jim Rosica