On GA Rep Bill Werkheiser (R - 157th) and misinformation

False allegations of racism is usually a tool of the left

It has come to our attention that state Rep Bill Werkheiser has been severely misinformed about yours truly.

Word has arrived here from South Georgia that Rep Werkheiser has told at least one Appling County Republican (in writing) that I somehow “make a living fundraising off the immigration issue.” It gets worse and even more outrageously wrong – and potentially libelous.

Related: Feds bust ‘modern-day slavery’ ring in Georgia

We don’t think Rep Werkheiser does much research before he spreads very inaccurate and damaging misinformation about people, at least about me.

Below is a screenshot sent to me this week that I am told by a third person and friend of the source comes from the cell phone of an interested Appling County resident. He sent a text to Rep Bill Werkheiser about an informative post I put on the Appling County Republican Party Facebook page when I learned that Rep Werkheiser would speak to that group next month. I have spoken on the phone with the man who received the text reply he says came from Rep Werkheiser. Rep Werkheiser has one thing right – I do live in Cobb County – in the same house for nearly 40 years.

The short version of a correction to the falsehoods Rep Bill Werkheiser is reportedly spreading is that in 2003 I set aside my own insurance business and began using my own money to fight the organized crime of illegal immigration. We have refinanced our home several times and incurred massive debt in that ongoing effort. I strive to not only counter the misinformation spread by agenda-driven media about illegal immigration but also to work to see Georgia law aimed at making our state inhospitable to that crime actually enforced. I formed the Dustin Inman Society in 2005. We do accept donations but my financial condition can hardly be viewed as “making a living” in any realistic measurement. I will likely never get out off debt.

These facts are easily confirmed, not withstanding the false information spread by the anti-enforcement lobby. It is difficult to understand how Rep Werkheiser can say “I know him well” as other than a very short and friendly conversation in the hallway of the CLOB in February, I don’t know him at all other than from the actions he takes on legislation both in committee and floor votes.

We are an IRS 501 (C) (4) non profit corporation in good standing with all state and federal regulations. We operate on donations.

Like the diverse group of Americans who serve on our board and support our cause, we are pro-enforcement on immigration. I’ll pass Rep Werkheiser’s depiction of me on to the proud Hispanic, black and Asian Americans on the DIS board.

It seems that Rep Werkheiser may be reacting to facts I shared with some of his constituents on legislation on which he is a cosponsor (HB 131) and another bill (HB 136) that he joined the Democrats in voting against in a committee hearing last session.

We firmly believe in transparency in government and make no apology for educating Georgians on what goes on in the state Capitol.

—>UPDATE: The liberal AJC prints a lengthy correction after demand letter from the Dustin Inman Society. More news on this coming soon.

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Daily Signal News report (‘DEFAMATORY’: Conservative Demands Swing-State Newspaper Retract ‘Hate Group’ Smear’)
on the recent AJC attack here by the great Tyler O’Neil.

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I added educational hyperlinks to the below letter – dak.

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October 18, 2024

VIA U.S. REGULAR MAIL & E-MAIL

Leroy Chapman, Jr., Editor in Chief THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION 223 Perimeter Center Pkwy NE Atlanta, Georgia 30346

Re: Demand for Retraction and Apology

Dear Mr. Chapman, Jr.:

I write on behalf of my client, the Dustin Inman Society (DIS), to demand an immediate retraction and apology for the defamatory statements published in your October 7, 2024, article titled “Democrats in this Georgia district are backing a write-in candidate” by Tia Mitchell.

Through use of internet links, the AJC article wrongfully characterizes the Dustin Inman Society as a “Marietta-based anti-immigration hate group.” This characterization is false, defamatory, and published with actual malice. The Dustin Inman Society pushes for secure borders, is not “anti-immigration” and its proprietors do not hate anyone. Rather, DIS advocates for enforcement of U.S. immigration laws and actively opposes unlawful immigration. This distinction is crucial and well-known to staff at your publication.

I paste the offending paragraph from the AJC story:

“A search of activity under her birth name, Karen Sacandy, which Stamper legally changed in 2019, showed that she previously was aligned with a Marietta-based anti-immigration hate group. The group’s website often linked to Sacandy’s activities, like a letter seeking information about the state’s Immigration Enforcement Review Board and a copy of a letter to the editor supporting legislation to prevent immigrants claiming asylum from obtaining driver’s licenses.”

HEMMER WESSELS MCMURTRY PLLC
250 Grandview Drive, Suite 500, Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017 ● Phone 859.344.1188 ● Fax 859.578.3869

October 18, 2024 Page 2

We note the AJC informs readers that the Dustin Inman Society “often” linked to Karen Sacandy/Kate Stamper activities — but produces only two occasions.

Your story, for which DIS founder and president D.A. King was not contacted, informs readers that Sacandy/Stamper “was aligned” with the Dustin Inman Society. We note that polls show that a majority of Americans oppose the federal offense of illegal immigration. Since the letter posted on the DIS site was a published missive to the editor at the Cherokee Tribune, we must ask: does this make that newspaper a “Cherokee County-based anti-immigration hate group”?

Your characterization demonstrates a reckless and vindictive disregard for the truth, rising to the level of actual malice as defined in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan. Actual malice in defamation law refers to publication of a statement with knowledge that it is false or with reckless disregard of whether it is false or not. Your repeated mischaracterization of the Dustin Inman Society, despite having been corrected on numerous occasions, clearly meets this standard.

The Dustin Inman Society’s position on immigration is clear and public:

1. It supports sustainable levels of legal immigration through established channels.

2. It opposes unlawful immigration due to various societal concerns, including: – Strain on public resources and services
– Potential and real public safety issues
– Economic impacts on low-wage American workers and America’s poor

– Challenges to the rule of law

3. The Dustin Inman Society defends legal immigrants when media attempt to blur the difference between them and illegal aliens.

Moreover, the Dustin Inman Society’s board includes lawful immigrants who have navigated the proper channels for authorized immigration. This fact alone should dispel any notion that the organization is “anti-immigration.” As he has informed you multiple times over much of the last two decades, D.A. King’s sister is a real, legal immigrant.

While we acknowledge that the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the Dustin Inman Society as an “anti-immigrant hate group that denigrates all immigrants,” your article presents the “anti-immigration hate group” characterization as the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s independent assessment and statement of fact.

This smear is not only demonstrably false and ignores Mr. King’s many communications to you advising you of the truth, but also demonstrates an exceedingly unprofessional failure to fact-check and verify information before publication.

We demand that the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

October 18, 2024 Page 3

1. Immediately publicly retract the defaming statement in the October 7, 2024, article.

2. Publish a prominent apology, equal in visibility and placement to the original defamatory article.

3. Cease and desist from further defamatory characterizations of the Dustin Inman Society.

Failure to comply with these demands may result in further legal action. We expect your prompt attention to this matter and await your timely response.

Sincerely,

Todd V. McMurtry

cc: James Abely, Esq.