A controversial Montana pastor who founded a conservative Christian polemics website has admitted to publishing a false story about a transgender activist.
Jordan “J.D.” Hall, best known as the voice of the Pulpit & Pen, later renamed Protestia, was sued last year for libel after another one of his publications, the Montana Gazette, published a story about Adrian Jawort, a Native American activist.
In that story Hall called Jawort a “transvestite Goth” and accused Jawort of threatening a state senator.
As part of a settlement, Hall admitted the story was fabricated and apologized, according to the Great Falls Tribune. The libel suit was dismissed, with the agreement Jawort will be able to make a claim of $250,000 against Hall who is currently in bankruptcy.
Hall also posted a note on the Montana Gazette website. “I apologize to Adrian Jawort,” he wrote.
“The information I published about Adrian was false. Adrian did not threaten or harass Senator Butch Gillespie. I regret the error and sincerely apologize to Adrian for publishing it.”
Hall also was arrested in mid-May on DUI and weapons charges. He pleaded not guilty to those charges and claimed he suffers from a vitamin deficiency.
After his arrest Hall offered to resign as pastor of Fellowship Baptist, according to a statement posted on the church website May 16. The church rejected his resignation, but placed Hall on a leave of absence.
