Mastriano"s Libel Claims: A Pennsylvania Political Controversy

Pennsylvania state senator Douglas Mastriano has initiated a lawsuit against the University of New Brunswick (UNB) and several faculty members, alleging that they leaked his doctoral thesis and conspired to undermine his research on First World War hero Sgt. Alvin C. York. The lawsuit, filed in Oklahoma, claims that the defendants engaged in a racketeering scheme to deprive Mastriano of his intellectual property rights, including his PhD, books, and speaking engagements. The legal action follows significant criticism of Mastriano's thesis, which earned him a PhD from UNB. Central to the lawsuit is a libel claim stemming from a letter issued by UNB's History Department faculty, which criticized Mastriano's public statements as reflecting an anti-2SLGBTQQIA+, Islamophobic, sexist, and racist ideology. This letter also condemned anti-transgender policies and proposed initiatives such as a Queer History Month event and a new graduate scholarship aimed at recognizing the contributions of equity-seeking groups in historical studies. The libel claim is particularly contentious as it is based on general allegations of ideological bias rather than specific factual assertions, which may limit its legal viability. Legal experts suggest that such broad claims are often viewed as opinions and thus not actionable under libel law. Additionally, the connection between the letter and James Gregory, a defendant residing in Oklahoma, raises questions about jurisdiction in this case. Overall, the lawsuit reflects ongoing tensions surrounding academic freedom, political discourse, and the intersection of personal beliefs and professional conduct in the realm of higher education.