So is the hypothesis that the Ensey's want to ensure Newell receives the new liquor license, but the reporting by the newspaper was going to interfere with that

So is the hypothesis that the Ensey's want to ensure Newell receives the new liquor license, but the reporting by the newspaper was going to interfere with that? Or more generally we could just assume that the Ensey's and Newell are friends due to their business relationship, so the County Attorney was simply attempting to protect his friend from bad press.