David Smith, owner of The Baltimore Sun and executive chairman of Sinclair Broadcast Group, has threatened to sue Maryland Governor Wes Moore for defamation. The threat follows Moore's remarks on MS NOW linking Smith to Jeffrey Epstein, intensifying tensions amid scrutiny of Moore's military record.

Smith's lawyer, Attorney Harold Walter, issued a warning in a June letter obtained by Semafor, emphasizing that "a false assertion of this nature linking an individual to Mr. Epstein’s financial dealings is of a kind that foreseeably subjects that individual to serious reputational harm, including public contempt and scorn, diminished business relationships, and damage to personal and professional standing."

The dispute arises after Justice Department records cited by Sandler indicated that Epstein-founded Financial Trust Company held Sinclair investments valued between $156,240 and $373,980 in 2001 and 2002. Additionally, another Epstein-founded company, Southern Trust Company, reportedly invested over $100,000 in Sinclair Broadcast Group in 2013 through Southern Financial LLC.

Semafor also reported that Smith was copied on emails from reporters investigating Governor Moore, an unusual arrangement given the typical separation between newspaper ownership and editorial operations.

Questions about Moore's military biography include his listing of a Bronze Star on a 2006 White House fellowship application before officially receiving the award. Moore described this as an honest mistake and was awarded the medal in 2024 after his former commander resubmitted the paperwork.

Smith's legal team demands a "clear, unequivocal public retraction and correction" from Governor Moore. Moore has accused The Baltimore Sun of targeting him amid critical coverage of his administration and biographical record. Moore's office maintains that his statement linking Smith to Epstein is "absolutely and indisputably true," calling the defamation claim meritless.

Sources