The reporter asked me a few questions one morning while I was getting my kids ready for school. I told her I was active in my church and pro-life. I answered her questions and volunteered that I had notarized petitions and witnessed signatures made. I assured her I never reported on my involvement or my actions in my church.

After our conversation ended, she asked me (off the record) if I did or did not realize that as a journalist, I should never do what I did. I was confused. In my view, I had done nothing wrong. The issue of life is nonpartisan. There are pro-life people who are Republicans and pro-life people who are Democrats.

The reporter pressed me, and I said in frustration, “You know what, you’re right, I shouldn’t have done it.” I responded in duress, and it wasn’t even a coherent sentence. Yet it was the only “quote” she took from me for her story.

On the morning of September 30, 2022, the news article crossed news desks in Nebraska. By 6 p.m., I was no longer employed by Gray Media.