Setting the Record Straight: An Attempt at a Smear Campaign

A recent, poorly researched and subliterate article, “Setting the Record Straight – Frankfort Mayor Election” by Jacob Murphy, attempts to mislead the public by falsely claiming that Dan Rose and a company under his control (which does not exist) are running a “smear campaign” against incumbent Mayor Keith Ogle in the upcoming Frankfort mayoral race. Murphy’s article specifically targets an investigative piece I wrote, which accurately and thoroughly documents how three businesses owned by Mayor Ogle and one of his top campaign donors received approximately 51% of all Back to Business (B2B) Grant Funds disbursed in Frankfort, Illinois, in 2022. More information on this developing story being covered by an unaffiliated party can be found at the Will County Gazette here.

For full transparency, my original, fully sourced, state data-cited article can be found here.

Jacob Murphy’s defamatory and error-ridden response can be found here (for now).

Blatant Misrepresentation and False Claims

Murphy’s so-called “fact-checking” piece is riddled with factual inaccuracies, defamatory claims, and deliberate misrepresentations. His article is not only negligent in its portrayal of the facts but appears to be a direct and malicious attempt to smear my reputation.
Murphy begins by falsely stating:
“A recent article has attempted to mislead the public by suggesting that Mayor Keith Ogle and a campaign donor improperly benefited from COVID-19 relief funds.”
This is demonstrably false. Nowhere in my article do I claim or even imply that Mayor Ogle or his donor engaged in improper, illicit, or criminal activity to obtain COVID-19 relief funds. The article simply presents publicly available state data, showing that a majority of B2B funds in Frankfort went to businesses owned by Mayor Ogle and one of his top donors. Stating facts based on verifiable state records is not the same as accusing anyone of wrongdoing.
If Murphy views my reporting as an accusation of impropriety, then by extension, he is accusing the State of Illinois—whose documents I cited—of making the same accusation, as the data and figures come directly from public records.

“Fact-Checking” Claims I Never Made

Murphy’s article quickly descends into absurdity by “fact-checking” statements that do not exist in my original reporting. He writes:
“Fact Check: Where Did the COVID-19 Relief Money Come From?”
Murphy’s attempt to explain the origins of COVID-19 relief funding is both irrelevant and disingenuous. Nowhere in my article do I claim that Mayor Ogle had any role in distributing or influencing the allocation of federal or state COVID-19 relief funds. In fact, my article clearly states that the B2B grants and PPP loans were part of federally funded relief programs distributed by Illinois state agencies. It would be impossible for anyone who read my piece in full to have missed this point, making Murphy’s “fact-check” either a blatant misrepresentation or evidence that he never actually read the article he was supposedly refuting.

False Statements About My Employment

Murphy’s defamatory article takes a sharp turn into outright fabrication when he falsely identifies my employer and professional affiliations. He repeatedly refers to “Frankfort Gardens,” a company that does not exist. Neither Dan Rose nor anyone else owns or operates such an entity. Presumably, Murphy was attempting to reference The Gardens of Frankfort, a proposed manufactured housing development owned by Dan Rose.
Murphy goes on to state that I am the “social media manager for Frankfort Gardens,” a position that is pure fiction. To be clear:

• I am not, nor have I ever been, the social media manager for The Gardens of Frankfort (an actual company unlike Frankfort Gardens, which, again, does not exist).
• I have never been employed by The Gardens of Frankfort or by any of the affiliated housing developments owned or co-developed by Dan Rose or his father, Mike Rose (e.g., Gateway Housing Community).
• The third-party marketing firm Global 360 Marketing handles all media, social media, and digital content for The Gardens of Frankfort. I have no employment, freelance, or consulting relationship with Global 360 Marketing and never have.

These false claims about my employment are easily disprovable with a cursory search. Murphy’s failure to verify such basic facts demonstrates not just negligence but reckless disregard for the truth.

The Real-World Consequences of False Reporting

Murphy’s decision to publish blatant falsehoods about me has had real and damaging consequences. The day after his article was published on Patch.com, a longtime professional and personal acquaintance contacted me, shocked by the fabrications. This individual, familiar with my actual employer and professional history, was stunned that a publication could print such glaringly inaccurate information.
As I have often joked, I am likely the “easiest person to Google search in America” because, to my knowledge, I am the only living Thomas Witschy in the United States. There is no possibility that Murphy confused me with another individual of the same name. His article uniquely defames me by making maliciously false claims that directly harm my personal and professional reputation.

Meeting the Legal Threshold for Defamation

Under Illinois defamation law, the elements required to prove a case of defamation include:

1. A false statement – Murphy falsely claims I hold a position I do not and work for a company that does not exist.
2. Demonstrable falsity – These claims are provably false through basic public records, Google searches, and direct confirmation from the companies in question.
3. Publication to a third party – Murphy’s article was publicly posted on Patch.com, a widely read platform.
4. Harm to reputation – The article falsely portrays me as a paid political operative, damaging my credibility as an independent journalist.
5. Negligence or actual malice – Given the easily disprovable nature of Murphy’s claims, his article appears to meet the actual malice standard, as it shows a reckless disregard for the truth.

Conclusion

Jacob Murphy’s article, “Setting the Record Straight – Frankfort Mayor Election,” is a transparent and malicious attempt at a smear campaign. It contains multiple demonstrably false statements, including fabrications about my employment and professional affiliations, and falsely claims that my investigative reporting was politically motivated.
Murphy’s article is not merely inaccurate—it is defamatory. It meets the legal threshold for defamation under Illinois law and will be treated accordingly. I remain committed to accurate, fact-based reporting, and I will not be intimidated or silenced by false and malicious attacks.