National Review is suing Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) for access to public records about a murder victim who Booker says died in his arms.
Rich Lowry, the magazine’s editor, announced Wednesday his decision to file a lawsuit with Booker, the City of Newark, and the Newark Police Department, for more information on the death of Wazn Miller, who, according to Booker, was shot in Newark in 2004 and died in the mayor’s arms.
“Now, we have no idea of the truth of this account, and as far as we know, the incident happened exactly as described by Booker,” Lowry wrote on the magazine’s website.
Lowry writes that the magazine had been “stonewalled” in efforts to get more information about Miller.
National Review has also tussled with Booker over the veracity of Booker’s story of drug dealer “T-Bone” who the magazine argues Booker likely made up.
“But, given the dubious existence of T-Bone, we’d like to see documents backing up Booker’s statements,” Lowry writes. “Certainly, the public has a right to know if Booker has made a habit of embellishing or fabricating similarly cinematic stories.”
National Review filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, according to Lowry.
“Yesterday we filed suit against the Newark Police Department, the City of Newark, and Mayor Booker to obtain the records in keeping with New Jersey law,” Lowry continued. “This suit shouldn’t be necessary, but the official obstruction in Newark has made it so. In such an instance, everyone should favor openness.”
