From the May 2000 Idaho Observer:

Spokesman-Review reporter called a liar

1st Amendment says nothing about the truth?

LIBBY, Mont. -- Spokesman-Review reporter Bill Morlin reportedly admitted to several witnesses the morning of April 15 that he is not beholden to the truth while exercising his 1st Amendment rights to freedom of the press.

Morlin has made a frontpage career out of quoting Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center and Bill Wassmuth of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harrassment in an effort to paint people who question the activities of their government as racist, anti-government extremists.

Morlin has been caught reporting several lies over the years with regard to those he often errantly refers to as anti-government extremists. While he was decrying his right to exercise freedom of the press amid charges of writing lies about certain individuals, Morlin reportedly stated, “There is nothing in the 1st Amendment about having to tell truth.”

The above statement appeared for three days on The Sierra Times website as the quote of the day.

It was at about this time that Americans for a Constitutional Government (ACG) Chairman Jack Gurganus, in front of the 40 people in attendance, called Morlin a “lying sack of crap.”

Morlin had erroneously characterized Gurganus as the leader of a “militia” group in a frontpaged article regarding the rally April 12. ACG is a group of 30 to 40 concerned citizens who meet once a month in Post Falls to discuss the issues.

When asked if he would like to comment on the quote, Morlin denied having said it and stated, “If I am misquoted in your paper or anywhere else, rest assured that our attorneys stand ready to take whatever legal action is appropriate.”