It is clear to any member of the public that this is retaliation intended to intimidate and chill journalistic inquiry on a matter of public importance — tent cities — at a critical time.

It was bad faith, transparently false, and clearly related to the pending byelection. https://twitter.com/dunnune/status/1265291192683515904

The fact that it is being falsely and perversely distorted by political interests to attempt to make it appear that the attempt to intimidate went the other way — despite no plausible motive — only goes to further reveal the malice necessary to perpetuate it.

We will not be distracted or baited by craven stunts undertaken by partisan political actors attempting to change the channel from the main issue of public importance: public saftey in and around Victoria’s tent cities. People deserve answers.

It’s important that bad faith attempts to intimidate the free press be called out when they occur, though. Left unchallenged, narratives fester and spread to the minds of those who don’t realize they’re passing along political attacks. Every person needs to know it’s not real.

There will be no excuses for any person caught attempting to perpetuate it. They will not be able to pretend they didn’t know.