Katherine Robertson Forced to Retract Defamatory Ad & Pivots to New False Attack Against Jay Mitchell

From the Mitchell campaign

May 6

BIRMINGHAM, AL—The truth about Jay Mitchell’s record was vindicated today after Katherine Robertson was forced to take down a false and defamatory attack ad, following an airtight retraction demand from Mitchell. 

Mitchell said, “Alabamians just watched Katherine Robertson walk back one of the lies she has spent millions in dark money to spread. I’m glad to see the rule of law prevail against her campaign’s shameless attempt to mislead voters.”

Mitchell made clear he was prepared to pursue the matter in a court of law, pursuant to Alabama Code 6-5-18, and Robertson’s team quietly removed the ad. But rather than correcting course, Robertson has already rolled out a new false attack. The new ad alleges (this time, obliquely) that Mitchell does not support law enforcement and has made it easier for officers to be sued for doing their job.

This is another lie, and again: the opposite of this ad is true. It is Robertson’s Office that has repeatedly attacked protections for good officers like Cody Smith and Mac Marquette, and it is Mitchell who has led the fight to protect them.

Robertson’s Office let Officer Smith sit in Limestone prison for two years, even though they knew he was innocent. And even after Mitchell’s scathing opinion about the State’s unjust prosecution of Smith, Robertson still strong-armed Officer Smith into a felony plea deal. Robertson’s Office is also currentlydefending the wrongful prosecution against Officer Marquette. 

None of Mitchell’s Supreme Court opinions have ever damaged qualified immunity protections for law enforcement officers. Mitchell’s well-documented record of support for the badge is reflected in his broad support from the law enforcement community as well as his professional, public opposition to wrongful prosecutions of law enforcement officers in Alabama. 

The Mitchell campaign said, “Thanks to backing from the strongest law enforcement leaders in the state, support for Jay has spread like wildfire among law enforcement ranks. Officers have watched Ms. Robertson’s office railroad good cop after good cop—and they are outraged by this ad’s brazen misrepresentation of her record. Now, more than ever, they are all in for Jay Mitchell.” 

Mitchell is proudly supported by more than 40 police chiefs and seven sheriffs across the state of Alabama. He also carries the endorsement of Back the Badge Alabama.

Below: the Shoot Me Straight podcast with Eddie Gallagher, with Jay Mitchell and Cody Smith, talking about about ending the war on cops in Alabama: