Original: Mystery blogger takes off mask (H/T: Coeur d'Alene Press)

North Idaho Republican political campaign worker Linda Cook says she is “almostinnocentbystander,” the anonymous online commenter on the Spokesman-Review website who allegedly defamed Kootenai County Republican leader Tina Jacobson. Cook worked in North Idaho on the Vaughn Ward campaign for Congress two years ago, a bid that fell short against current U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador. Ward said Cook was a campaign worker for him for nine months, but he declined further comment. Cook, 55, of Rathdrum, also has worked on campaigns for former Idaho state Sen. Mike Jorgenson, current Idaho state Rep. Kathleen Sims, and was a congressional aid for late U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage of Idaho. All are Republicans. A judge in 1st District Court earlier this month ruled the Spokesman-Review must give Jacobson and her attorney information that could lead to the identity of almostinnocentbystander. The newspaper won’t appeal Judge John Luster’s recent order. Spokesman-Review editor Gary Graham said in an email Monday, “Our attorneys advised us that it was highly unlikely that an appeal would have been successful in Idaho”/David Cole, SR. More here.

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