6 ms·
Only individual people can be defamed, not political parties. Plus what is being asserted is not really a factual statement so it can't be a lie. Politicians
by tantalor 1y ago
Only individual people can be defamed, not political parties.
Plus what is being asserted is not really a factual statement so it can't be a lie.
Politicians are allowed to say things like "my opponent believes such and such".
- anonymouskimmer 1y agoI think the idea of the comment you replied to is that the people whose out-of-office messages these appear to be are being defamed through the appearance of being partisan, or more strongly through the appearance of violating the Hatch act.
- tantalor 1y agoOh gotcha. If they could show a harm, like financial loss, then it could be. I think a close analogy would be if I send a letter, but sign your name. If a reasonable person would think you wrote the letter, then this might qualify as defamation. IANAL
- anonymouskimmer 1y ago> If they could show a harm, like financial loss, then it could be. IANAL, but I think directly writing a Hatch act violation on behalf of a person would fall under defamation per se, not defamation per quod, and thus harm would not have to be demonstrated. https://www.findlaw.com/injury/torts-and-personal-injuries/what-is-defamation-per-se.html https://www.findlaw.com/injury/torts-and-personal-injuries/w...