By Dennis McCaslin -Owner & Editor, Today in Fort Smith
FORT SMITH, AR – In recent weeks, Today in Fort Smith has come under fire from Javier Leiva, host of the "Pretend Podcast," in a series of unwarranted accusations aimed at discrediting our work and reputation.
This backlash appears to stem from our coverage of Anthony Christopher, a former Medicaid fraud suspect and disgraced business owner who has been featured on Leiva’s show. While Today in Fort Smith remains committed to delivering factual, honest reporting, Leiva seems more interested in elevating Christopher’s claims than in seeking the truth.
Our publication has reported extensively on Anthony Christopher's legal troubles, given his involvement in allegations that are of significant interest to the people of Arkansas.
We make no apologies for covering stories about individuals who have faced criminal charges, as transparency and accountability are central to what legitimate media outlets are called to provide. Leiva, on the other hand, has unfortunately chosen to give Christopher a platform to spread misinformation without scrutiny.
For instance, Christopher was allowed on Leiva's podcast to claim that LaDonna Humphrey was the sole reason he faced Medicaid fraud charges. This is demonstrably false. (You can access a copy of his arrest warrant by clicking HERE.)
A review of the arrest warrant reveals multiple sources who reported Christopher’s alleged fraud to authorities. Yet, in his eagerness to present an incomplete story, Leiva has ignored these critical facts.
Christopher also suggested that his charges were dropped due to their baselessness and attempted to place blame on LaDonna Humphrey for the dismissal.
However, court records from Arkansas’s Court Connect system tell a different story: the state ultimately declined to pursue the case due to a lack of available witnesses and the age of the evidence, not because the accusations were unfounded or because of any influence from Ms. Humphrey.
Ms. Humphrey should not suffer the slings and arrows of the malfeasance of the state Attorney general's office, which allowed themselves to be snowballed into non-prosecution by the legal tactics of Christopher's well-compensated attorney.
As a responsible media entity, Today in Fort Smith stands by its reporting. We base our stories on verifiable information, not conjecture or sensationalism. The choice to ignore facts in favor of a more compelling but misleading narrative reflects poorly on Leiva's journalistic integrity. Allowing falsehoods to circulate unchallenged does a disservice not only to the public but to the ideals of responsible reporting.
Today in Fort Smith will continue to hold the individuals and organizations accountable to the truth, including Javier Leiva and the "Pretend Podcast."
We remain committed to transparency and to exposing the inaccuracies that have been perpetuated on his platform.