Aidan Kearney (journalist)
Aidan T. Kearney is an American author, Independent Journalist, social activist and entertainer, also known as Turtleboy.[1] He is the senior editor of TB Daily News.
Kearney has organized protests and provided media coverage of an ongoing case regarding the death of a Boston Police Officer, John O'Keefe.
The name Turtleboy is a nod to the Burnside Fountain located in Worcester, Massachusetts depicting a young boy riding a sea turtle.
Aidan Kearney | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 26, 1981 |
| Other names | Turtleboy, Clarence Woods Emerson |
| Alma mater | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| Occupation(s) | Author, Independent Journalist |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | Mary Mullaney (mother) Kevin Kearney (father) |
| Awards | Worcester Magazine: Best Local Blog (2015, 2016)
Worcester Magazine: Best Local News Source (2017, 2018) The Valley Patriot: First Amendment Award (2018) |
| Website | Tbdailynews.com |
Early life
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, he is the son of a former attorney and Worcester School Committee member Mary Mullaney and Kevin Kearney.[2][3] Kearney attended South High Community School, graduating in 2000.[4]
Career
Early on in his career, Kearney worked as a history teacher at Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley, MA[2] and coached boys varsity track at Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester.[4]
As a hobby, he started an online blog called AidanFromWorcester.com, where he posted on a variety of issues.
After he quit teaching, Kearney started the supposedly anonymous website, Turtleboy Sports, which he eventually turned into a full-time career.[5]
In 2021, Kearney ran for Wachusett Regional School Committee but was not elected into the role.[6]
As 'Turtleboy'
After founding the online publication Turtleboy Sports, Kearney wrote investigative articles anonymously under the pen name Uncle Turtleboy and Clarence Woods Emerson. He grew the site into a team of contributors who contributed articles anonymously under a variety of nom de plumes.
In 2015, his identity was unmasked and he began openly using the Turtleboy alias in his writing.[2] He changed the name of his publication to TB Daily News in 2017.[citation needed]
In 2018, Kearney spoke out about big tech companies like Facebook and Google, citing online censorship. This prompted him to write and publish a book titled, I AM Turtleboy: A teacher turned blogger battles big tech censorship, threats, and political correctness to protect free speech and democracy.[7]
In 2019, the ACLU provided legal defense for Kearney in a case against a Rhode Island judge who ordered the removal of “any and all posts, blogs, and comments” regarding a person who sued him for libel. The case cited a violation of the First Amendment in an attempt to censor an investigative journalist.[8]
Investigative reporting
Massachusetts State Police scandal
In 2018, Kearney covered alleged misconduct within the Massachusetts State Police regarding a K-9 trooper's history of drug dealing and money laundering.[9] In the early 2000s, the trooper participated in a large scale marijuana business run by her then-live-in boyfriend. The trooper failed to disclose this criminal activity when applying for the State Police, but was uncovered during a testimony against her former boyfriend. The uncovering of this information led the State Police to implementing new background checks and hiring protocols.[10] Because of her criminal history and subsequent dishonorable discharge from the force, cases she participated in during her tenure were called into question. Three District Attorney cases were thrown out due to her involvement.[9]
He was also cited as the first to break news of a Massachusetts state trooper who faced disciplinary actions for including incriminating details in an arrest report concerning a judge's daughter.[11]
Commonwealth vs. Karen Read
In April 2023, Kearney began covering a news story surrounding a Massachusetts woman named Karen Read, who was accused of hitting her boyfriend John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer, with her car outside of a home in Canton, Massachusetts in January 2022. Kearney supports Read's claim that she did not hit O'Keefe and is being framed for his death. He has organized protests in Canton in support of Read, including at related pre-trial hearings, where he coined the phrase "Free Karen Read". The case has garnered national attention as the result of Kearney's coverage of the case in a series called Canton Coverup.[1]
Kearney was arrested on October 11, 2023, and charged with one count of conspiracy and eight counts of witness intimidation related to his involvement with the case and subsequent protests.[12] Kearney pled not guilty to all charges, and was released on bail on the condition that he "not have contact with people tied to Read's murder case".[12] In December 2023, it was alleged that Kearney violated the conditions of his bail and was subject to arrest. He turned himself in to law enforcement and was arraigned in Dedham District Court on December 27, 2023. His bail was revoked and is being held in Norfolk County jail for up to 90 days.[1][13]
Kearney has retained a defense attorney for what they are arguing is a violation of Kearney's First Amendment rights on the basis of his work a journalist is protected under freedom of speech.[14]
Awards and recognition
Under the Turtleboy Sports name, Kearney has won four Worcester Magazine Best of Worcester awards:
- Best Local Blog: 2015, 2016
- Best Local News Source: 2017, 2018
In 2018, Turtleboy was also among five nominees to be selected for The Valley Patriot First Amendment Award, a designation given to those who have "made a significant difference in holding public officials accountable, fought for transparency in government, and gone above and beyond the call of duty to defend and protect our right of free speech, a free press, freedom of religion and/or has been a whistle-blower against corruption".[15]
In popular media
Kearney has been has been a recurring guest with Howie Carr on The Howie Carr Show.[16][17]
He has also been featured on CourtTV to provide commentary on the Karen Read case and associated felony witness intimidation charges.[17]
References
- ^ a b c Machado, Jess (2024-01-15). "Exclusive first interview with Aidan "Turtle Boy" Kearney from jail". Fall River Reporter. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b c McFarlane, Clive. "Turtleboy blogger unmasked". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ "Damian Kearney - Track and Field". Loyola Marymount University Athletics. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b McFarlane, Clive. "Track coach says fix is in for school job". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Kearney, Aidan (2018). I Am Turtleboy: A teacher turned blogger battles big tech censorship, threats, and political correctness to protect free speech and democracy (published November 7, 2018). ISBN 978-1730970610.
- ^ "Town of Holden, Election Results" (PDF). holdenma.gov. May 10, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Mullaney, Tim. "The tale of Turtleboy and how Facebook stifles free speech". MarketWatch. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ "ACLU Defends Blogger Subjected to Court "Gag Order" After He Posted a Blog About Hopkinton Resident". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b "Mass. state trooper with criminal past dishonorably discharged". WCVB. 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Moulton, Cyrus. "State trooper with drug-dealing past is ousted". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Lips, Evan (2018-02-23). "TRIALS OF TURTLEBOY: Worcester Blog Takes On Boston Newspapers Over Coverage Of Massachusetts State Police Scandals". NewBostonPost. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b Associated Press (2023-10-11). "'Turtleboy' blogger charged with witness intimidation in murder case in Massachusetts". westernmassnews.com. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Patkin, Abby. "Turtleboy blogger Aidan Kearney's bail revoked amid new charges". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ "Judge hears First Amendment argument from 'Turtleboy' blogger charged with witness intimidation". Boston 25 News. 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Duggan, Tom (2018-03-06). "Valley Patriot BASH Committee Announces the 2018 Nominees for our 1st Amendment Award". The Valley Patriot. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ "TURTLEBOY: "There's a reason they're being investigated by the FBI and I'm not" | 12.20.23 - The Howie Carr Show Hour 4". HCRN. 2023-12-21. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b "Karen Read Supporter 'Turtleboy' Talks to Court TV". Court TV. Retrieved 2024-01-23.