Request for comment turns personal

Email exchange with Ashli Ford's attorney proves challenging

Editor’s note: As part of my ongoing coverage of the Ashli Ford case, I reached out to her defense attorney, Peter Pattakos, with a series of questions directly related to her upcoming sentencing. These questions focus on public-interest issues including Ms. Ford’s acceptance of the court’s findings, her intentions toward her victims, and her views on the speech at the center of the case. Rather than receiving clear answers, the exchange highlights some of the challenges journalists face when pursuing accountability in contentious, high-profile matters.