In June 2017 , Palin filed a defamation lawsuit against '' The New York Times '' for an editorial that accused Palin of " political incitement " in the run-up to the 2011 shooting of Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords , and claimed a link to an advertisement from Palin 's political action committee — which showed stylized crosshairs against the congressional districts held by 20 Democrats , including Giffords . '' The Times '' later issued a correction , stating that " no such link was established " between the advertisement and the shooting , and clarifying that what was depicted in the crosshairs in the ads were " electoral districts , not individual Democratic lawmakers . " The '' Times '' wrote that the error did not " undercut or weaken the argument of the piece . " In subsequent testimony at an evidentiary hearing , '' Times '' editorial page editor James Bennet stated that the editorial sought to make a point about heated political rhetoric , and was not intended to blame Palin for the attack on Giffords
2011 shooting
2011 Tucson shooting
Sarah Palin