Kansas lawmaker sues The Star, contributing columnist Steve Rose for defamation

TOPEKA -- Kansas Senate Republican Leader Jim Denning is suing The Kansas City Star and contributing columnist Steve Rose, alleging Rose falsely attributed statements to him about his views on Medicaid expansion.

Denning, of Overland Park, also released emails showing that Rose offered to resign as columnist if Denning’s office dropped its inquiry into comments that Rose attributed to Denning.

“The Kansas City Star has been made aware of a lawsuit filed in response to a column written by Steve Rose and published on Jan. 26,” said Colleen McCain Nelson, editorial page editor and vice president of The Star. “The column has been removed from kansascity.com while The Star investigates. Mr. Rose was a guest columnist and was not an employee of The Kansas City Star.”

Denning filed the lawsuit on Monday in Johnson County District Court. In his complaint, he alleges one count of defamation, saying that Rose and The Star knew the comments attributed to him were false and that he has been exposed to public hatred, contempt and ridicule. Attached to the suit as an exhibit is a profanity-laced email sent to Denning.

Read more here: https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article225208765.html