William Hyland, Jr., talked about his book In Defense of Thomas Jefferson: The Sally Hemmings Sex Scandal (Thomas Dunne Books; June 9, 2009). In his book the former prosecutor argues that Thomas Jefferson did not have a affair with Sally Hemmings nor fathered her child. Mr. Hyland examines evidence as a lawyer would and contends that the DNA results specify a "Jefferson male" whom he identifies as possibly Randolph Jefferson, the younger brother of the former president. He also relays that stories of President Jefferson's affair were started by James Callender who was denied a postmaster appointment. He refers to the Hemmings family's oral histories that he reports contradict the relationship and condemns revisionist histories. Mr. Hyland spoke as if presenting an argument to a jury. Then he responded to questions from members of the audience at the event at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2009, at the Colonial Williamsburg Booksellers in the Visitors Center in Williamsburg, Virginia.

William Hyland, Jr., is a trial lawyer and a former prosecutor with over twenty-five years of litigation experience. He currently serves on the Florida Judicial Nominating Commission. Mr. Hyland is a member of the New York and Virginia Historical Societies and the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society.