It's not that they just called him a pedophile, but also claimed he tried to molest a girl. That's the defaming part.
"One part of toddandclare’s two-pronged campaign put a megaphone to unproven charges that Assange made contact with a young Canadian girl in the Bahamas through the internet with the intention of molesting her. The second part sought to entangle him in a plan to receive $1 million from the Russian government."
Actually I'm pretty sure calling someone a pedophile is libel per se. libel per se
Are you making a distinction between being a pedophile (not a crime) and acting on those urges (criminal) ?
Because in the case of libel per se I don't think that would matter, not all things considered libel per se are crimes. I'm not a lawyer though.
I don't even understand this part
Assange made contact with a young Canadian girl in the Bahamas through the internet with the intention of molesting her.
How could he have done that if she's in the Bahamas and he's in England? Is this just euphemistic language for getting her to send pictures or video? This part is wierd.
Yes, thoughts vs actions. But, with what all is going on with pedophilia and the many sins commonly associated with it, I agree that even calling someone that would tarnish their reputation.
And on your point about the Bahamas girl...no idea. It is weird.
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AreWeSure ago
So it seems like calling someone a pedophile is defamation. Good to know.
DefenderOfTruth ago
It's not that they just called him a pedophile, but also claimed he tried to molest a girl. That's the defaming part.
"One part of toddandclare’s two-pronged campaign put a megaphone to unproven charges that Assange made contact with a young Canadian girl in the Bahamas through the internet with the intention of molesting her. The second part sought to entangle him in a plan to receive $1 million from the Russian government."
Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article110904727.html#storylink=cpy
AreWeSure ago
Actually I'm pretty sure calling someone a pedophile is libel per se.
libel per se
Are you making a distinction between being a pedophile (not a crime) and acting on those urges (criminal) ?
Because in the case of libel per se I don't think that would matter, not all things considered libel per se are crimes. I'm not a lawyer though.
I don't even understand this part
How could he have done that if she's in the Bahamas and he's in England? Is this just euphemistic language for getting her to send pictures or video? This part is wierd.
DefenderOfTruth ago
Yes, thoughts vs actions. But, with what all is going on with pedophilia and the many sins commonly associated with it, I agree that even calling someone that would tarnish their reputation.
And on your point about the Bahamas girl...no idea. It is weird.