EXCLUSIVE: A prominent pro-life organization is refusing demands to remove years of abortion-related reporting and to issue sweeping retractions after attorneys representing 13 abortion-rights advocates accused it of publishing false and defamatory claims about their pregnancies. "The answer is ‘No,’" attorneys for Live Action wrote in a fiery response obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital ahead of its public release Monday. The Thomas More Society, representing Live Action, argues that much of the disputed coverage is constitutionally protected speech, including the organization's use of terms such as "killing" to describe abortion, and signals that it is prepared to defend Live Action in court if the dispute escalates.
SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY SLAPS DOWN BLUE STATE TARGETING PRO-LIFE GROUP "Live Action will not cease reporting on abortion," the response says, rejecting demands to delete its archive, publish sweeping retractions or agree to restrictions on future coverage. Peter Breen, executive vice president and head of litigation at Thomas More Society, told Fox News Digital that he believes the dispute raises a fundamental free-speech issue. "The other side's argument is that somehow, by using the word kill or calling abortion killing, that you have a problem that you can create that could then be remedied in court," Breen said.
"The issue is every single final court decision to deal with this has previously said that's not defamatory," he added. "It's not legally wrong to call abortion killing." BABYLON BEE SUES NEW MEXICO OFFICIALS OVER LAW REQUIRING AI DISCLAIMERS ON POLITICAL SATIRE Amplify Legal's July 15 cease-and-desist, however, alleges that the dispute goes beyond Live Action's use of terms such as "killing." Amplify, which represents 13 people featured in Live Action coverage, accused the outlet of publishing false factual claims about their pregnancies, fetal diagnoses and medical circumstances and demanded that Live Action remove articles and social media posts and issue a public apology and retractions. Amplify Legal responded Monday, telling Fox News Digital that its objections concern statements it says Live Action made about families facing wanted pregnancies.
"Live Action has repeatedly accused grieving families with wanted pregnancies of ‘wanting to kill’ their babies. These statements are both inaccurate and cruel," Amplify Legal said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Asked whether Amplify intends to sue following Live Action's rejection of its demands, the group stopped short of committing to litigation.
"As our clients’ lawyers, we will be weighing all of their options," the statement said. SURROGATE GIVES BIRTH IN TEXAS TO BABY WITH HEART DEFECT AFTER PARENTS REQUESTED ABORTIO Among the examples cited by Amplify is Kate Cox, a Texas woman who sought an abortion after her unborn child was diagnosed with Trisomy 18. Amplify says Live Action repeatedly disputed whether the diagnosis meant Cox's daughter was certain to die.
Cox, whose case made national headlines after she asked the Texas Supreme Court for permission to obtain an abortion was denied and later left the state to have the procedure, was a guest of former first lady Jill Biden at the 2024 State of the Union Address. Amplify further says Live Action failed to contact its clients or their medical providers for comment before publication. "The lying, bullying, and complete disregard for the truth must end now," Amplify Litigation Director Molly Duane said when announcing the demand in July.
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