Latest news with #NebraskaRepublicanParty
Newsweek
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Nebraska Republican Denies Doing a 'Nazi Salute' in Photo With Her Dog
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Nebraska Republican Party Communications Director Haile McAnally rejected accusations on social media that she made a Nazi salute in a recent photo with her dog. "My arm was just up," she said in a post on X. "There was zero meaning behind it." Newsweek reached out to McAnally via direct message on X and Nebraska's Republican Party via email for comment. Why It Matters The social media accusations against McAnally emerged at a time of heightened sensitivity to Nazi references within American political and social discourse. High-profile public figures, such as tech billionaire Elon Musk and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, have been accused of making similar gestures. What To Know On Sunday, McAnally posted a mirror selfie of her sitting with her dog on a bed with her arm raised above her head and the caption: "Dog mom-ing it today." Several X users accused McAnally of performing a Nazi salute, including the progressive account Definitely Not Al Gore (@AlDefinitely), which said in a separate post: "The communications director for the Nebraska Republican Party is an open Nazi." Nebraska State Senator Megan Hunt, an independent in Omaha's District 8, posted on X: "Did you get the views Haile? Did you get the clicks? Did you get the engagement? Here's the Nebraska GOP comms director & Omaha Young Republican chair 'throwing a Roman' as the young Nazis say." McAnally later shared a post that defended her on X and wrote, "My arm was just up. There was zero meaning behind it. I think it's weird that those salutes are a 'trend.' And it is not one I wish to be a part of. That is all." The controversy follows similar accusations against public figures. In January, Musk was accused of making a Nazi-style salute at President Donald Trump's inauguration, sparking widespread criticism and debate. Musk denied the allegations on X, stating he was being attacked by "radical leftists." Trump loyalist Steve Bannon was also accused of performing the salute at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February. Bannon insisted his gesture was a "wave" and said it was the "exact same wave" he had performed previously while addressing a National Rally conference. In May, Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, faced allegations from some Trump supporters that he made a Nazi salute during a public event. Booker's spokesperson told Newsweek, "Cory Booker was obviously just waving to the crowd. Anyone who claims his wave is the same as Elon Musk's gesture is operating in bad faith. The differences between the two are obvious to anyone without an agenda." What People Are Saying Conservative social media figure Benjamin Uber defended McAnally on X: "Haile is NOT Doing a Nazi salute. Y'all are seeing Nazis where there are not you continue to normalize calling people who are not Nazis, Nazis, people will then embrace it whether they are or not." Elon Musk said after he was accused of using a Nazi salute: "The radical leftists are really upset that they had to take time out of their busy day praising Hamas to call me a Nazi." The Anti-Defamation League said of Musk's gesture at the time: "It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge." What Happens Next It remains uncertain whether McAnally or the Nebraska Republican Party will make further statements addressing the controversy. The trend of scrutinizing gesture and symbolism in political and public life is expected to continue, as social media amplifies both genuine concerns and misinterpretations. Broader debates about the normalization of extremist language and iconography are likely to persist and intensify as the U.S. enters another election cycle.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nebraska GOP decides not to appeal verdict in defamatory GOP mailers case
The Nebraska Republican Party's Lincoln headquarters is shown. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — The Nebraska Republican Party has decided not to pursue any post-trial motions or appeals of a civil defamation case that awarded a former GOP legislative candidate $500,000 in damages. The state party lost a lawsuit that awarded former candidate Janet Palmtag of Nebraska City damages for the impact on her business and personal life from mailers a jury determined had crossed the line. The mailers had claimed she 'broke the law' and 'lost' her real estate license and was unfit to become a state senator. 'Although neither my immediate predecessor, Chairman Eric Underwood, nor I was involved in the 2020 actions that led to Janet Palmtag's civil lawsuit and subsequent judgment,' Nebraska GOP Chair Mary Jane Truemper said. 'We are both, nonetheless, sympathetic to the harm it caused her.' The decision effectively ended neatly a decade-long legal battle between the state GOP and Palmtag, a long-time GOP volunteer. The former party leadership has said it based the mailer's claims on a 2017 case before the Iowa Real Estate Commission in which Palmtag, the owner of a real estate firm operating in Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa, agreed to pay a $500 fine on behalf of her firm to resolve a mistake made by one of its agents. At the time, as Palmtag testified, the agent was gravely ill and had failed to obtain all the signatures necessary to transfer an earnest deposit for the sale of a home in Iowa. Jury awards $500,000 to legislative candidate defamed by Nebraska GOP mailers Truemper recently became state GOP chair after Underwood decided not to seek reelection. Underwood and a group of populist Republicans, with old-guard help, took over in 2022 from a party leadership team loyal to then-Gov. Pete Ricketts. It was the Ricketts-favored team who made the decision to attack Palmtag, who in 2020 ran against a Ricketts appointee, former State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar. Palmtag was backed by former Gov. Dave Heineman and other prominent members of the party, including former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb. Palmtag lost to Slama in the GOP-on-GOP race. But the party's decision to take sides in the race upset some Republicans. After the verdict, Palmtag's attorney said he hoped the decision would serve as a warning to political consultants, professionals and candidates about the claims they make in campaigns. 'We cannot have 'our facts.' Facts are facts — not yours or mine,' Palmtag's attorney David Domina said, 'It is long past time for our discourse to return to this essential home base.' Truemper said the party's apology may not be satisfactory to Palmtag, but she hopes she knows the party wishes 'for her healing and peace as she moves forward.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A jury found Nebraska's Republican Party defamed one of its own candidates in 2020
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A jury has found that the Nebraska Republican Party defamed one of its own candidates during an ugly legislative race five years ago and ordered it to pay her $500,000. The Lancaster County jury sided with Janet Palmtag on Friday in her defamation lawsuit against the party. Palmtag sued after the Nebraska GOP sent out campaign mailers in October 2020 falsely claiming she had been charged with mishandling business trust accounts and had lost her Iowa real estate license. At the time, Palmtag had been a lifelong Republican who was challenging fellow Republican and then-state Sen. Julie Slama of Peru, who had been appointed by and was backed by former Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts. The race highlighted a growing schism within the state GOP, particularly between supporters of Ricketts and those of his predecessor, Republican Gov. Dave Heineman, who backed Palmtag in the legislative race. The party's mailers, sent to about 3,200 households of registered voters, included statements that Palmtag 'broke the law and lost her real estate license,' and that her license had been 'revoked.' The mailers also described Palmtag as 'too irresponsible to keep her license.' The mailers grossly mischaracterized a 2018 disciplinary case out of Iowa that found Palmtag's real estate brokerage firm responsible for improperly transferring funds from an Iowa account to a Nebraska one. It was not Palmtag but another real estate agent who worked for the firm that had made the improper transaction. The company paid a $500 fine for the oversight. Two years later, Palmtag canceled her Iowa real estate license, citing a lack of business for her firm there. The decision was not related to the disciplinary case, she said. Palmtag demanded corrections to the mailers, but the state party refused. She sued after losing the race to Slama, seeking more than $4 million. A judge initially dismissed Palmtag's case, but upon her appeal, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled last year that a jury should decide whether she was defamed. Palmtag, who left the Republican Party following the dispute, argued that the campaign attack had not only cost her the race, but had hurt her business and personal life. The jury agreed, awarding $500,000 — a rare win for a defamation case involving politicians who are often seen as public figures and fair game in political attacks. Palmtag's attorney, David Domina, has been a trial attorney in Nebraska for 50 years and said he has seen only a couple of defamation cases that led to significant awards for the person suing. 'I think it's it's about as scarce as hen's teeth,' Domina said. The Nebraska GOP has 30 days to decide whether it will appeal the jury's finding, and another 10 days to file for a new trial. After that, 'Janet could start collection procedures," Domina said. Nebraska GOP Chair Mary Jane Truemper, who was just elected to the post last month, said Monday that the state party is 'in the investigative phase right now' of weighing whether it will appeal.
Associated Press
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
A jury found Nebraska's Republican Party defamed one of its own candidates in 2020
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A jury has found that the Nebraska Republican Party defamed one of its own candidates during an ugly legislative race five years ago and ordered it to pay her $500,000. The Lancaster County jury sided with Janet Palmtag on Friday in her defamation lawsuit against the party. Palmtag sued after the Nebraska GOP sent out campaign mailers in October 2020 falsely claiming she had been charged with mishandling business trust accounts and had lost her Iowa real estate license. At the time, Palmtag had been a lifelong Republican who was challenging fellow Republican and then-state Sen. Julie Slama of Peru, who had been appointed by and was backed by former Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts. The race highlighted a growing schism within the state GOP, particularly between supporters of Ricketts and those of his predecessor, Republican Gov. Dave Heineman, who backed Palmtag in the legislative race. The party's mailers, sent to about 3,200 households of registered voters, included statements that Palmtag 'broke the law and lost her real estate license,' and that her license had been 'revoked.' The mailers also described Palmtag as 'too irresponsible to keep her license.' The mailers grossly mischaracterized a 2018 disciplinary case out of Iowa that found Palmtag's real estate brokerage firm responsible for improperly transferring funds from an Iowa account to a Nebraska one. It was not Palmtag but another real estate agent who worked for the firm that had made the improper transaction. The company paid a $500 fine for the oversight. Two years later, Palmtag canceled her Iowa real estate license, citing a lack of business for her firm there. The decision was not related to the disciplinary case, she said. Palmtag demanded corrections to the mailers, but the state party refused. She sued after losing the race to Slama, seeking more than $4 million. A judge initially dismissed Palmtag's case, but upon her appeal, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled last year that a jury should decide whether she was defamed. Palmtag, who left the Republican Party following the dispute, argued that the campaign attack had not only cost her the race, but had hurt her business and personal life. The jury agreed, awarding $500,000 — a rare win for a defamation case involving politicians who are often seen as public figures and fair game in political attacks. Palmtag's attorney, David Domina, has been a trial attorney in Nebraska for 50 years and said he has seen only a couple of defamation cases that led to significant awards for the person suing. 'I think it's it's about as scarce as hen's teeth,' Domina said. The Nebraska GOP has 30 days to decide whether it will appeal the jury's finding, and another 10 days to file for a new trial. After that, 'Janet could start collection procedures,' Domina said. Nebraska GOP Chair Mary Jane Truemper, who was just elected to the post last month, said Monday that the state party is 'in the investigative phase right now' of weighing whether it will appeal.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jury deliberating whether 2020 Nebraska GOP campaign mailer defamed legislative candidate
A verdict is expected in the Janet Palmtag defamation lawsuit against the Nebraska Republican Party as early as Friday. (Getty Images) LINCOLN — Opposing attorneys laid out starkly different portrayals Friday of campaign mailers sent during the 2020 election that a Nebraska legislative candidate alleged were defamatory and damaged her business, marriage and reputation. The attorney for the candidate, Janet Palmtag of Nebraska City, told jurors during closing arguments that the Nebraska Republican Party showed a reckless disregard for the facts in sending out the fliers, which he said falsely stated that she had broken the law and lost her license to practice real estate. The attorney, David Domina, asked jurors to award Palmtag $4.25 million for the loss of real estate listings and damage to her standing in her community and damage to her relationship with her family. 'Other than to call her names, there's really no defense here,' Domina said. The attorney for the Nebraska GOP portrayed the mailers as largely true and said the content had been checked against available public records. It was only later, lawyer Kamron Hasan said, that the party learned the back story about the disciplinary steps taken against Palmtag's real estate firm by the Iowa Real Estate Commission. He termed it 'an honest mistake.' 'The First Amendment and free speech protects honest mistakes … it protects Democrats, it protects Republicans, it protects other political affiliations,' Hasan said. The closing arguments came at the end of a weeklong trial in Lancaster County District Court over the defamation lawsuit filed by Palmtag against the Nebraska GOP. A jury of seven men and four women (One juror didn't return after being picked to serve.) must decide, by clear and convincing evidence, if the statements made in the campaign mailers were false, that the GOP knew they were false and published them with a reckless disregard for the truth. If the jury cannot reach a verdict by 4:30 p.m. Friday, deliberations will continue Monday, according to the trial judge, Lancaster County District Judge Andrew Jacobsen. The case raises issues of how far political speech can go during a heated campaign and hinges on whether the political party issued the mailers recklessly or with malice, a legal term that essentially means intentionally. Palmtag lost the 2020 race for the Nebraska Legislature in southeast Nebraska against the then-incumbent, State Sen. Julie Slama. The race pitted two Republicans against each other, with Slama being backed by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, who appointed Slama to her post, and the state party. Palmtag, a longtime state GOP volunteer, was supported by former Gov. Dave Heineman, then-U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, among others. Palmtag filed her lawsuit three months after the election. Testimony at trial indicated that Palmtag had called the then-executive director of the state GOP after the initial mailer was sent out on Oct. 8, 2020. The mailer stated that Palmtag had 'broke the law' and 'lost' her real estate license, which Palmtag said was a lie and needed to be corrected. Instead, the GOP executive, Ryan Hamilton, refused and instead sent a second mailer to 3,200 households stating that Palmtag was 'too irresponsible' to serve as a legislator. That piece cited a 2017 civil fine levied by the Iowa Real Estate Commission paid after one of Palmtag's agents had failed to obtain all the required signatures for a transfer of an earnest deposit on the sale of a home. Domina, during his closing argument, said the Nebraska GOP was 'reckless' in the campaign flyer because Palmtag never 'lost' her license — she voluntarily gave up her personal and the firm's corporate licenses in 2019 due to a lack of Iowa business after flooding — and because her consent agreement with the Iowa commission admitted no violation of law. '(The consent agreement) doesn't end with a license revoked, suspended or lost,' he said. Palmtag and her firm were still in 'good standing' for two years afterwards, when the licenses were not renewed, Domina said. But, Hasan, the GOP attorney, told jurors that what the party sent out was 'at least substantially true,' because the consent order read that Palmtag's real estate firm, J.J. Palmtag, did not contest the 'alleged violation' of Iowa law. 'It was a violation. The law was broken,' he said. 'You don't have to admit to being guilty of a crime for it to be true.' Hasan said that when Hamilton looked up the status of J.J. Palmtag's Iowa license in 2020, he found that it was listed as 'canceled.' 'You don't have to overthink this,' he told jurors. 'Just read the words.' But Domina said that if Hamilton had researched the Iowa commission's website further, he would have discovered that Palmtag's individual license had become 'inactive' in 2019, and the company's license had been listed as 'canceled' because that's how corporate licenses are listed when not renewed. Palmtag, Domina said, only agreed to pay a $500 fine to resolve the matter, which she testified stemmed from a mistake by one of her salesmen, who was gravely ill. Domina said Palmtag was being 'responsible' for resolving the matter, calling it 'preposterous' that she had been 'irresponsible' as claimed by the GOP. Hasan, meanwhile, said that as the supervising agent, it was her mistake that caused the fine. 'Janet is J.J. Palmtag and J.J. Palmtag is Janet,' he said. The case took so long to get to trial because initially, the judge had granted a summary judgment filed by the GOP, thus dismissing the case. Domina appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor that a jury, and not the judge, needed to make that decision, which led to this week's trial. This is a developing story. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
