Originally Syndicated on April 13, 2024 @ 10:13 am
Ms. Chooljian had previously investigated the alleged sexual misconduct of Eric Spofford, the man who founded the largest network of addiction treatment centers in the state of New Hampshire.
A short while after, Ms. Chooljian’s residence was the target of a serious act of violence, and Mr. Spofford’s request to have her web piece taken down was denied by New Hampshire Public Radio.
Journalist Lauren Chooljian of New Hampshire Public Radio noticed a concerning pattern developing. The day before, her parents’ New Hampshire home was the scene of another act of vandalism—the second such incident in as many months.
And to think that her publisher’s flat had also been attacked a few months before.
The hackers used three red sentences that were displayed to make their point succinctly, and their ominous prediction would soon come true.
As we’ve seen over the past year, what began as what appeared to be a series of isolated acts of vandalism has developed into a lengthy legal battle with significant implications for the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech.
Unfortunately, there has been a marked rise in the number of attacks on journalists inside the country. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker documented 41 incidents of physical violence on reporters in the year prior.
A very concerning occurrence involved the indictment of a public figure in Nevada on charges of the murder of a journalist who was looking into his actions.
Legal scholars often note that these kinds of lawsuits are employed to penalize smaller media outlets for their investigative journalism and discourage rivals from voicing their ideas.
The circumstances surrounding Ms. Chooljian and New Hampshire Public Radio serve as a reminder of how difficult it is to draw clear distinctions between legitimate and unlawful types of intimidation.
This emphasizes the substantial challenges media organizations face in an era marked by lawmakers’ frequent demonization of reporters and certain magistrates’ attempts to limit the constitutional protections that the First Amendment of the United States Constitution affords the press.
Scholars of law have expressed concerns about the most recent decision, stating that it would make it more difficult for the media to investigate possible wrongdoing by public officials.
The person who has been charged with trespassing and sexual assault, Eric Spofford, has angrily denied these allegations. He has also made accusations against New Hampshire Public Radio, claiming that they intentionally attempted to falsely associate him with the attacks to avoid facing consequences from the law.
The person in question, together with one of NHPR’s reporters, has filed a lawsuit against the organization, claiming that it committed libel. Reporters are unsure about who is responsible for the vandalism.
Still, they suggest a possible link to their current investigation of Eric Spofford. The 13th Step, a podcast series that NHPR is launching, will explore its in-depth investigation of Eric Spofford and the recovering industry while also highlighting the difficulties the news organization has faced.
According to the advice of NHPR’s safety experts, the family of the reporter leading the investigation will be moving to a different state due to safety concerns.
An Intimidating Performance in Crimson: Eric Spofford
One prominent figure connected to Granite Recovery Centers was Eric Spofford, who had a big impact on New Hampshire. The concerned party not only gave a speech to Congress, and the state legislature but also advised Chris Sununu, the governor, on how to handle the heroin epidemic.
The person’s public persona, bolstered by a significant internet fan base of over one million, often featured captivating narratives about his struggle with drug addiction.
The NHPR began covering Eric Spofford in the media in 2020 with an article written by Ms. Chooljian that gave details of a COVID-19 outbreak at a Granite Recovery facility.
After that, a tidbit of information regarding claims of Eric Spofford engaging in sexually explicit behavior surfaced. Throughout fifteen months, Ms. Chooljian conducted an extensive series of interviews with a significant number of Granite Recovery clients and former employees.
Reports state that Eric Spofford allegedly sold his company for almost $115 million.
Ms. Chooljian presented the research findings to Eric Spofford, who vehemently refuted any charges of improper behavior with the advice of Mitchell Schuster, his then-attorney.
Schuster made accusations against Ms. Chooljian, claiming that she engaged in dishonest journalism practices and malicious behavior. In addition, he communicated his worries to Daniel Barrick, Ms. Chooljian’s editor.
NHPR eventually made public the investigative report that served as the foundation for Mr. Spofford’s harassment complaint. As to the narrative, a former patient at Granite Recovery revealed that Eric Spofford had engaged in inappropriate dialogue directed against her.
Another former worker said that Mr. Spofford had molested her sexually. Granite Recovery’s former head of religious affairs, Piers Kaniuka, announced his resignation in the open.
The decision was brought about by a staff member’s allegation that Eric Spofford had sexually assaulted her.
Following the publication of this investigative investigation, attorneys for Eric Spofford corresponded with those who had discussions with Ms. Chooljian. The previously mentioned correspondences served as a warning that Eric Spofford intended to file a lawsuit.
In addition, they instructed the recipients to save all written communications and pertinent information on the previously described issue.
Coming Across an Unexpected Difficulty
According to the statements of three individuals with knowledge of the investigation, the Bureau of Investigation’s agents and federal attorneys in Boston are currently investigating the vandalism incident.
The investigators are looking into Mr. Eric Spofford’s potential involvement in the incident. Reports state that people who know Ms. Chooljian are supposedly under pressure from Mr. Eric Spofford’s attorneys.
Still, attorney Howard Cooper, who is representing Mr. Eric Spofford, claims that no federal agency has asked to question Mr. Spofford about his possible involvement in the vandalism.
Mr. Eric Spofford had already speculated that the criminal act might have been committed by one of Ms. Chooljian’s informants.
According to the reports, Mr. Spofford has filed a libel lawsuit against the NHPR, Ms. Chooljian, Mr. Barrick, and other defendants, involving three sources. The court file has ninety pages of documents in total.
Before resuming the lawsuit, Mr. Spofford’s attorneys informed the presiding judge that they needed the written and audio transcripts of Ms. Chooljian’s discussions with particular sources—two of whom were willing to provide information only on the condition of secrecy.
Mr. Spofford stated that the lack of such evidence would be a major barrier to proving the carelessness of NHPR’s activities.
Before deciding whether or whether NHPR must reveal the material to Mr. Spofford, the court has agreed to assess the information’s relevance.
Throughout the discussion, Ms. Chooljian expressed concern regarding the impending release of her podcast and expressed fear that people would be harmed.
The main subject was placed next to an opening that had previously been harmed by graffiti, next to a framed sign that said, “Ask More Questions.”
There are visible traces of broken glass and brick on the windowsill in the form of little indentations. You can click this link to learn more about the case: https://www.nhpr.org/2022-03-22/eric-spofford-granite-recovery-center-nh-sexual-misconduct
About Eric Spofford
In addition to being a successful businessman, Eric Spofford is a speaker, mentor, and recovering addict. The person in question takes on the position of Chief Executive Officer at Spofford Enterprises, a company that specializes in asset management across multiple industries, including residential and commercial real estate.
Driven by his struggles, Eric Spofford founded and oversaw a well-known rehabilitation facility in the New England area. He also has a great deal of experience in real estate development and investment.
Throughout his professional career, Eric Spofford has received numerous notable distinctions. Among these accomplishments is the prestigious title of Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
The Bottom Line
During a time when there are an increasing number of threats to the media, including psychological and legal attacks, Lauren Chooljian & New Hampshire Public Radio’s experience is a prominent example of the risks and challenges that media companies face.
Governments are increasingly portraying reporters as enemies, and some courts are working to limit the safeguards that the First Amendment of the Constitution provides for the press.
