Florida AG Wields State Pension Fund Against the NYT

James Uthmeier is claiming that the Florida retirement fund’s investment in the Times allows it to request internal documents and push for editorial changes.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier

Uthmeier gave the board two weeks to respond, and threatened to file suit if it does not answer. Rebecca Blackwell/AP

Florida’s Republican attorney general is employing a novel strategy in an attempt to prove “editorial malpractice” at The New York Times — seeking to use his control over the state’s pension fund, which invests in the media company, to compel the release of private documents that he claims will prove the company faces substantial harm due to bias.

James Uthmeier, Florida’s top law enforcement officer, sent a 28-page letter to the Times on Monday requesting internal documents related to the newspaper’s board of directors.

Uthmeier gave the board two weeks to respond, and threatened to file suit if it does not answer.