Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh has threatened to sue the House Democrats’ fundraising arm for using comments he made about rape on college campuses in fundraising emails.
In a letter to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Limbaugh’s lawyer demanded the DCCC retract the emails and publicly apologize for “its reprehensible defamation of Mr. Limbaugh.”
“The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee … — comprised of elected public officials who should know better — has intentionally disseminated demonstrably false statements concerning Rush Limbaugh in a concerted effort to harm Mr. Limbaugh,” wrote lawyer Patricia Glaser of the law firm Glaser Weil.
“Mr. Limbaugh has authorized this firm to promptly commence litigation against the DCCC if it refuses to retract its defamatory statements.”
The dispute centers on on-air comments Limbaugh made regarding a new sexual consent program at Ohio State University, which states that “consent must be freely given, can be withdrawn at any time, and the absence of ‘no’ does not mean ‘yes.’”
Limbaugh mocked the university’s policy during his Sept. 15 nationally syndicated radio show, saying “how many of you guys, in your own experience with women, have learned that ‘no’ means ‘yes’ if you know how to spot it?”
The DCCC then accused Limbaugh of advocating a tolerance of rape.
DCCC Action wrote in a fundraising email later in September, “In case you missed it, Limbaugh actually said, ‘no means yes’ if you know how to spot it.”
But Limbaugh’s attorney called the DCCC’s accusation “shocking and inexcusable” and “civilly actionable,” suggesting Limbaugh’s comments were taken out of context and that he later said on air the “no means yes” concept was “simply not tolerated.”
“The DCCC knowingly and intentionally mischaracterized Mr. Limbaugh’s September 15, 2014 statement,” the letter said. “Mr. Limbaugh did not say anything remotely close to the foregoing assertions, and his September 15, 2014 statement does not convey such a message.”
The letter said the DCCC’s actions also hurt the many small businesses nationwide that advertise on his show.
“These businesses do not deserve to be dragged into the DCCC’s illegitimate and illegal campaign,” the letter said. “Most of these businesses do not have the resources to fend off the DCCC’s impermissible tactics.”
Limbaugh’s attorney added the DCCC retracted criticisms it made in 2012 against Republican donor Sheldon Adelson.
