SHANE MALONE AGAINST NEW ZEALAND HERALD

Overview

On January 29, 2021 the New Zealand Herald published US capitol riots: AOC accuses Republican of trying to have her murdered. The story quoted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) as saying to Republican member Ted Cruz she was “happy to work with almost any other GOP that aren’t trying to get me killed.”

The story concluded with the backgrounder

“Trump was impeached for inciting the capitol insurrection by the US House of Representatives on January 13 and the US Senate will conduct a trial of the former president in the coming weeks.

While ten Republicans in the House voted to impeach Trump, there are growing doubts that the Senate will vote to convict him.”

Shayne Malone, complaining on January 29, said that this last reference was factually incorrect and a gross breach of duty to the public. Trump had not been impeached. Stuff could be held to be guilty of making false statements that the public may believe as fact.

The Media Council notes that impeachment is the process in the House of Representatives that effectively decides whether there is a case to answer. If the House finds there is such a case the impeachment process is complete and the issue then goes to the Senate for trial. Impeachment does not mean to convict, or discharge or remove as President.

Congress has impeached President Trump and still the impeachment stands, even though the later hearing in the Senate did not raise the necessary 75% majority required to convict. The article was accurate on the facts presented.

Finding: Insufficient Grounds to Proceed.