Apologize or face defamation suit, Danny Williams warns Muskrat Falls critic

Danny Williams's lawyer has told a vocal critic ofMuskrat Fallsto apologize for comments made to the CBC, or face legal action for defamation.

In a letter, lawyerStephen Marshalltook issue with portions of an interview with Ron Penney, a former civil servant and longtime opponent of thehydroelectric megaproject, that were published online on September 13, and aired on CBCRadio September 17.

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In that interview with the CBC's Chris O'Neill Yates, Penney spoke of the early days of the project, a time when former premier Williams was its most high-profile promoter, and public support was high.

Williams's lawyersent thewarningletter to Penney the day after the radio interview aired, on September 18.

The letter,obtained by CBC, demands"a properly worded total and absolute public apology and retraction" from Penney "in favour of my client" by the end of the day on September 21, or legal actionwill be pursued "vigorously."

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Three sentences

The letter emphasizes three specific comments among Penney's "defamatory statements, connotations or references." Those comments are:

• In reference to the testimony that will comeout during the Muskrat Falls inquiry, Penney said, "We'll know the truth. A lot of people's reputations will be harmed, and rightfully so."
• In reference to the public support theproject enjoyed at the start, Penney said, "Premier Williams was a a strong, a very forceful personality."
• On living in a small province where a lot of people have connections to the provincial government, Penney said,"there was a lot of concern that if people spoke out, that they would somehow be harmedor their family would be harmed."

Williams declined to comment to the CBCabout the letter.

Penney said he willmeet with his lawyer before deciding whether to speak.

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