Attorney and Democratic commentator Lanny Davis told Washington Times editors in an e-mail this evening that he would not be continuing his weekly “Purple Nation” opinion column, a decision prompted by the departure of his friend John Solomon as executive editor of the Times.
In Davis’ e-mail to Times editors, he thanked the staff of the paper, but said “In light of the announcement of John Solomon’s resignation, I am no longer comfortable writing a column for the Washington Times. I began writing because John asked me to. And now with him gone, I cannot continue.”
Solomon, whose resignation was announced by the newspaper’s outside PR firm late this afternoon, could not immediately be reached for comment.
“I’ve talked to John and he told me that he met with [Times management], and that the only alterntaive was to offer his resignation,” Davis told TPM, reached at his home tonight.
Davis’ last two columns for the paper were. “It’s time liberals drop the public option” and “Yankee hater finds love for team.” He told TPM his work will continue running in the The Hill and Huffington Post.
Here’s the full e-mail sent by Davis to Times editors:
In light of the announcement of John Solomon’s resignation, I am no longer comfortable writing a column for the Washington Times. I began writing because John asked me to. And now with him gone, I cannot continue. So, sadly, I won’t be writing for Monday or thereafter.
This is not a reflection on you, Victor, Ellen, my good and great friend Jeff Birnbaum, and other great journalists and editors who still work for the Times. I thank you all for giving me the privilege of writing my column and for your patient and outstanding editing.
It is a sad moment for me — but I just can’t continue in light of John’s resignation.
Sincerely,
Lanny Davis
