Defending herself against a libel suit, Linda Cook of Rathdrum (pictured) says an anonymous comment she made earlier this year on a Spokesman-Review blog was a question about the accounting of GOP funds in Kootenai County, not an allegation of theft. Cook, who is representing herself, filed her court response Tuesday to the suit brought by Tina Jacobson, who also lives in Rathdrum and is former chairwoman of the Kootenai County Republican Party. Cook wrote in her defense that she has proof Jacobson failed to provide annual budget and financial statements to members of the county’s Republican Central Committee. Jacobson failed to provide receipts or details of funds deposited or expenditures as mandated by committee bylaws, Cook argued. And that, she wrote, is what prompted her to post comments Feb. 14 under the name “almostinnocentbystander” on the Huckleberries Online blog/Scott Maben, SR. More here.

• Court document: Linda Cook response

Thoughts?