Portland Writer Peter Zuckerman Settles Lawsuit From Idaho Republican Donor

Frank VanderSloot attacked Zuckerman with full-page newspaper ads—and then sued Zuckerman for how he described the fallout in an interview on The Rachel Maddow Show.

By Aaron Mesh

Peter Zuckerman has played many parts in Portland: Oregonian reporter, partner of former Mayor Sam Adams, author of a book on Himalayan Sherpas, and spokesman for last year's ballot campaign to legalize recreational pot.

Last week, Zuckerman closed another chapter in his life: He settled a lawsuit filed against him in 2014 by Idaho's powerful Republican donor Frank VanderSloot.

Zuckerman wrote stories in 2005 for the Post-Register in Idaho Falls about a pedophile in the Boy Scouts. VanderSloot attacked Zuckerman with full-page newspaper ads—and then sued Zuckerman for how he described the fallout in an interview on The Rachel Maddow Show.

Zuckerman signed a negotiated apology to VanderSloot on Oct. 19.

"It's been an adventure," Zuckerman tells WW, and declined further comment.

VanderSloot, who had a related lawsuit against Mother Jones magazine tossed by a judge Oct. 6, has announced he's starting a "Guardian of True Liberty Fund" to protect conservative political figures from defamation by liberal media.

The legal costs of the combined VanderSloot cases? More than $2.5 million.

Willamette Week

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Frank VanderSlootMother JonesPeter ZuckermanRachel MaddowSam Adams

Aaron Mesh

Aaron Mesh

Aaron Mesh is WW's editor. He’s a Florida man who enjoys waterfalls, Trail Blazers basketball and Brutalist architecture.

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