Barnes Charges JS Reporter Who Slept With Him Worked on ‘Defamatory’ Story

Mandela Barnes scrums with reporters during a campaign stop in Milwaukee. Photo taken June 16, 2026 by Sophie Bolich.

Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. and gubernatorial candidate Mandela Barnes sued the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Tuesday, alleging the newspaper published a defamatory story about his consensual sex life at a key moment during the Democratic primary for governor, causing great harm to his reputation.

The legal complaint includes an explosive charge: that a female political reporter at the newspaper had a past sexual relationship with Barnes and then was involved in the flawed reporting process on his consensual sex life, and that the newspaper learned about the alleged conflict and did not tell readers, instead rushing the story into print.

According to the complaint, the campaign disclosed that relationship before publication, the newspaper acknowledged the conflict and removed the reporter, and other reporters were to re-report portions of her work. The challenged articles were published later that same day. The complaint identifies that sequence, together with prepublication communications and warnings, as part of the basis for its allegations that the paper had actual malice in reporting the story.

“The complaint identifies specific statements and implications that Mr. Barnes alleges are materially false, including the reporting about a supposed (Democratic) party investigation,” said attorney Michael J. Cerjak, counsel for Barnes with this complaint. “It also details the information provided to the Journal Sentinel before publication and the newspaper’s handling of a disclosed reporting conflict. Those allegations are central to the claims we are asking the court to resolve.”

“I understand that seeking public office brings scrutiny, and I respect the essential role of a free press,” Barnes said. “Accuracy and fairness matter deeply when reporting affects a person’s reputation, family, and future. I dispute the reporting identified in this complaint and believe it created a materially false picture of me and my conduct. I asked the Journal Sentinel to correct it, and the newspaper declined. I am bringing this case so the disputed facts can be examined through the legal process.”

Barnes wants compensatory and punitive damages and a jury trial. The lawsuit names Journal Sentinel Inc. as the only defendant.

Urban Milwaukee has reached out to the Journal Sentinel editor Greg Borowski and he referred all questions to the PR department of USA Today, part of Gannett, the corporate parent of the Milwaukee newspaper. We will report on any comments recieved. This is a developing story and more will be reported.