Republican candidate for Trumbull County Recorder Dawn Zinni is suing news reporter David Skolnick and Warren Tribune-Chronicle for $1 million, alleging the paper profiled her in "false light" to smear her campaign.

Zinni and her attorney, Sean Logue, served Warren Tribune-Chronicle a copy of the lawsuit Friday. The suit was filed in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Thursday afternoon.

The filing references Tribune-Chronicle articles relating to lawsuits Zinni faced in connection with her former business. It alleges that the newspaper discriminated against her by detailing these records of hers as opposed to Democratic male candidates' legal troubles, which were settled using taxpayer dollars.

The text of the lawsuit specifically accuses the newspaper of 'failing and refusing to report on the litigation history' of Trumbull County Engineer Randy Smith and Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe, who are both candidates for re-election on November's ballot.

However, civil cases and settlements involving Smith and Monroe have repeatedly been covered by the Tribune, as recently as October 28 and November 1 of 2024.

Zinni's lawsuit also specifically challenges the first amendment freedoms of the press, alleging Skolnick and the Warren Tribune-Chronicle exercised bias in their reporting.

"The problem is is that this newspaper bills themselves as being fair and balanced," Logue claimed. "In reality, they're fake news. In reality, they're a Democratic rag."

The lawsuit demands a trial by jury. Logue adds he is open to a settlement offer outside of court from Warren Tribune-Chronicle, which he hopes to finalize before election day.