[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 193 (Wednesday, November 3, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1190-E1191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CORRECTING ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE'S DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS

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                           HON. PAUL A. GOSAR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 3, 2021

  Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the malicious, 
false, and defamatory statements printed in Rolling Stone Magazine 
about me.
  Every statement about me in the October 24 article was false or 
misleading. Moreover, the

[[Page E1191]]

author knew they were malicious and false when he made them.
  For example, the author lies and says that I offered ``blanket 
pardons'' for unknown people for crimes that had not yet occurred. 
First, there is no such thing as a ``blanket pardon.'' The author 
states that a ``blanket pardon'' can be used to convey legal immunity 
on a person forever in perpetuity, presumably for any crime including 
murder or arson. It is ridiculous to say this, but he did in fact write 
this, and he knew no such thing occurred and nothing like that exists. 
Rolling Stone did this to defame me and make it look like I was 
planning for violence on January 6. This is malice.
  My work on pardons is a public record on file with the National 
Archives. For example, I wrote letters to the White House and the 
Office of Pardons on behalf of Stephen Bannon, former Congressman Rick 
Renzi, and for members of We Build the Wall. The President in fact 
granted pardons to Mr. Bannon and Mr. Renzi. But these pardons 
pertained to specific allegations in a criminal complaint or an actual 
conviction. These are not ``blanket'' pardons that forgive a person of 
all crimes forever, like a Papal indulgence.
  The author and Rolling Stone Magazine falsely claim I planned for 
violence by merely attending a rally on January 6 or lending public 
support for this speech prior to January 6. Or by speaking out on the 
floor of the House under the Electoral Count Act. These allegations and 
statements are false, defamatory, and malicious. There is no evidence 
of this because it never happened. To conflate support for election 
integrity, and support for the President to speak, with support for 
violence is false and defamatory. To then claim I planned the violence 
and did so to such a degree I was inducing people to commit violence 
with the prospect of the mythical ``blanket pardon'' is beyond the pale 
defamatory.
  At this time Rolling Stone refuses to issue a correction. Indeed, it 
published a follow up article on October 26 doubling down on its 
malicious defamation.
  I continue to demand a retraction. And an apology.
  Rolling Stone Magazine has a history of lying and defamation. It's 
ivermectin story turned out to be pure fiction. So is this one about 
me.
  Since it refuses to correct the story, retract it publicly with a 
full apology, I will be investigating legal options. The malicious lies 
this magazine has spread went viral and I received hate mail, death 
threats, and opprobrium across the country by people who believe what 
this author wrote. I will not accept this.

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