Mandela Barnes sues Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for defamation

We're going to start with our big story at 5. Mandela Barnes sues the state's largest newspaper. The former candidate for governor accuses the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel of defamation. Jason Calvey digging into the case with details. Hey there, Jason. Hey, Mary and Ben. Barnes claims the paper got facts wrong, and he says a newspaper reporter had a conflict that the paper did not reveal. But the paper stands by its reporting. I'm Mandela Barnes. It was a stunner. Twelve days before the high-stakes Democratic primary for governor. On July 30th, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Mandela Barnes was dropping out of the race. The paper reported it came amid looking into, quote, allegations that Barnes was taking advantage of his role in the party to have sexual encounters with young adult women. The J.S. also reported the Wisconsin Democratic Party hired a law firm in 2025 to probe similar claims against Barnes. His lawsuit says, That's wrong. Barnes argues there was no formal complaint, no factual investigation, no outside probe. His suit says the paper's own reporting never accused him of sexual assault, never accused him of non-consensual conduct, never accused him of harassment nor abusing his power. Barnes' lawsuit raised questions about an unnamed source used in the story. The suit says the campaign shared with the paper messages showing the relationship was consensual and continued for months. The newspaper defends itself. The paper quotes executive editor Greg Borowski, who said, quote, The Journal Sentinel stands by our reporting. The story went through our standard editing and legal review, and Mr. Barnes was given the opportunity to respond before publication. Mandela Barnes' lawsuit also claims the paper had a conflict of interest. He alleges he was in a sexual relationship with a reporter who helped develop the story. Barnes says it started in roughly 2018 and lasted several years intermittently. He says the reporter's name was not on the byline. But the paper's executive editor says the reporter was not involved in the reporting or writing of the published story. Barnes' lawsuit also sheds new light on why he says he dropped out of the governor's race. He says it was not because of the reporting, but was based on internal polling, finances, emergence of another candidate in absence of what he called a viable political path. Barnes is seeking damages with the dollar amount to be decided at trial. Jason, on that note, my memory serves me, he dropped out the same day that that reporting came out. So he's trying to, or he has said that if the reporting didn't happen, he would have dropped out anyway? That's what he's saying. He said he knew that this inquiry was going on, that the Journal Sentinel was looking into these claims, these allegations, but he said that was not part of his calculus when he decided to drop out. All right, we'll see how this unfolds. Jason, thank you.