Congressman Lloyd Smucker targets press

Feb. 2, 2026 | Smucker sues outlet in his district for defamation

Feb. 2, 2026 | Smucker sues outlet in his district for defamation

Rep. Lloyd Smucker sued LNP | LancasterOnline, a Pennsylvania-based news outlet in his district, on Feb. 2, 2026, claiming it defamed him in an editorial by writing that he had lied to his constituents about a policy debate over healthcare spending.

In October 2025, Smucker sent out a newsletter about ongoing budget negotiations in advance of a possible government shutdown, writing, “Liberals demanded taxpayer-funded free healthcare for illegal immigrants.”

The next day, reporters at LNP | LancasterOnline published an article examining Smucker’s claim, concluding that it was an exaggeration, but that “the complex nature of the Medicaid program and the multiple ways the federal government provides funding to health care providers make it almost certain that some money would indirectly cover the costs of caring for non-citizens who are here illegally.”

The outlet then published an editorial critical of Smucker for making the claim about liberals’ argument and fact-checking it further, saying, “Congressman Smucker is lying to his constituents about the health care battle being fought by Democrats.”

Two days later, Smucker called that statement “defamatory” and posted a letter from his attorney to the outlet’s publisher, LNP Media Group, demanding an apology and a retraction within the week. The outlet did not comply.

In February, Smucker sued LNP in a Lancaster County trial court, demanding more than $250,000 in damages. His attorneys argued that because LNP’s reporters had conceded that some federal money would indirectly pay for noncitizens’ healthcare, the editorial’s authors knew that Smucker had not lied, and that their accusation was false.

In response, Tom Murse, LNP | LancasterOnline executive editor, told Harrisburg broadcaster WHTM-TV: “The Oct. 8, 2025 editorial expressed an opinion on a matter of public concern, which is the purpose of editorials. Under the First Amendment, expressing opinions—including characterizing one side’s positions as false—is protected speech and does not constitute defamation.”