DORAL, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a new legal petition against The New York Times, demanding access to the media company’s internal corporate records to protect state pension investments.
Speaking at Miami-Dade College on Wednesday, Uthmeier clarified that the action is not a defamation lawsuit or an attempt to challenge editorial freedom. Instead, the legal petition targets corporate governance, seeking to inspect internal documents, board oversight mechanisms, and editorial review processes after a pattern of significant journalistic errors.
According to reporting from Florida Politics, Uthmeier took action as a Trustee and legal counsel for the State Board of Administration (SBA), noting that Florida’s pension fund holds roughly 160,000 shares of New York Times stock
“When you are a publicly traded company… you have legal responsibilities and duties to your shareholders,” Uthmeier said.
He emphasized that Florida’s State Board of Administration oversees one of the largest public pension funds in the world, serving more than 1.2 million public employees—including police officers, firefighters, teachers, and state workers.
The legal action follows an August 10 formal demand letter sent to The New York Times by the Attorney General‘s office.
nyt_letter_2PDF previewPreview PDF
See also: South Florida commuters face 10% Tri-Rail fare increase starting Oct. 1
The letter points out that The Times has repeatedly cited its brand and reputation as key financial assets to investors, while acknowledging that public perception of unreliable or biased journalism represents a material business risk. Florida officials argue that despite these warnings, the company’s Board of Directors appears to lack formal oversight over journalistic accuracy and editorial standards.
In response, a spokesperson for The New York Times dismissed the state’s demands as “grandstanding” and “a clear attempt to chill First Amendment-protected journalism,” adding that the outlet would formally respond in due course.
Uthmeier cited a series of high-profile retractions and corrections by the newspaper to illustrate potential corporate oversight failures:
Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War: The state highlighted an October 2023 editor’s note acknowledging early coverage of the Al-Ahli hospital explosion relied too heavily on Hamas claims, along with 72 corrections noted in war coverage over an eight-month period. Opinion Column Controversies: A May 2026 opinion column by Nicholas Kristof contained atrocity claims that drew defamation action threats from Israeli leadership, followed by executive admissions that the newsroom would not have published the piece. Ethics Violations: Recent disclosures revealed Kristof quoted former campaign donors without proper disclosure, violating the outlet’s own written handbook. Historical Accuracy Issues: The petition notes prior retractions, including the 2020 disowning of the flagship Caliphate podcast after discovering significant falsehoods from its core source.
Because The New York Times declined to provide the requested records voluntarily, following the state’s initial 14-day notice, the state filed its formal court petition to compel compliance. Local first responders and lawmakers joined the Attorney General to support the effort, stressing that safeguarding pension returns directly impacts the financial security of public servants.
“A pension is far more than a financial benefit. It is a promise,” said Chief Rita Rodriguez of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
State Rep. Omar Blanco, a veteran firefighter captain, echoed those sentiments, noting that public employees rely on strong pension management so they can retire with dignity after risking their lives for the community.