Hannah Giles Sued by Third ACORN Employee

Citizen Journalist Named in Second Lawsuit

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hannah Giles just had legal papers filed upon her in a Philadelphia lawsuit by ACORN employee Katherine Conway-Russell. Conway-Russell is suing Giles for "emotional distress" following the release of videotape exposing ACORN and showing her advising and assisting Giles.

"The First Amendment protects citizen journalists who expose truthful information for the greater public good," said Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel of Liberty Legal Institute, a non-profit legal firm representing Giles.  "Independent journalism and exposing government abuses are foundational in this country. This lawsuit is a direct attack on the First Amendment and an attempt to silence a young citizen journalist and discourage future journalistic inquiry that may shed light on the truth."

Conway-Russell, director for ACORN housing offices in Philadelphia, publicly denied advising Giles and her partner, James O'Keefe, stating that she asked them to leave after answering a few general questions.  However, the released footage (video without audio of Conway-Russell) in November clearly shows that Conway-Russell did in fact talk with Giles and O'Keefe and assist them for an extended period of time.

"When someone tells a lie about you, you have the right to reveal the truth," said Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty Legal Institute.  "Suing because your lies were exposed is wrong."

A website has been set up to help with Hannah's legal defense at www.DefendHannah.com.

Liberty Legal Institute is a legal organization committed to the defense of First Amendment rights and practices before the U.S. Supreme Court.

SOURCE Liberty Legal Institute