Summary
Trump adviser Stephen Miller erupted on Fox News after MSNBC analyst Andrew Weissmann criticized Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants as possibly unconstitutional.
Miller called Weissmann “an absolute moron,” “a fool,” and “a degenerate,” claiming he “shills for people who rape and murder Americans.”
When host Martha MacCallum noted both could express opinions, Miller shouted that he’d “defend American lives” while Weissmann “can defend illegal alien rapists, terrorists and predators.”
This continues Miller’s pattern of televised outbursts, including previous incidents on CNN and reactions to SNL jokes about Trump.
Exactly my point. Telling a lie (something that can be factually true or false, and isn’t merely an opinion) is an element of defamation (clearly not the entire definition of defamation, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that you knew that much at least).
Don’t even play, your original statement was nonsensical to defining defamation.
While defamation is hard to prove in some circumstances, in this case it is pretty cut and dry.
“prove prima facie defamation, a plaintiff must show four things: 1) a false statement purporting to be fact; 2) publication or communication of that statement to a third person; 3) fault amounting to at least negligence ; and 4) damages , or some harm caused to the reputation of the person or entity who is the subject of the statement.”
We have three of the conditions already. The plaintiff would need to prove harm for the last. With an actual tort I think this case could be successful, but there are a lot of variables.
What do you think?
What’s the false statement purporting to be fact, and not simply an opinion?
I am not sure this is going to be looked at this way by a jury or judge in the case of a summary judgement. I think the operational word here is purporting.
"“Purport” focuses on the substance or essence of a legal document, rather than its literal wording. "
Was he saying something meant to be considered factual in an attempt to defame. I think most reasonable people would agree with this statement.
Also, you must consider this will be a civil trial not a criminal one. The don’t need to prove mens rea here so instead of beyond a shadow it is what side is more believable.
On a personal level, I find it disturbing that for one, an aid to the POTUS talks to the media to begin with. Two, that this aid likes to freak the fuck out and make an ass of himself on national broadcast media. Three, that he is clearly a Neo-Nazi.
Any one of these things would have prevented someone from being part of our government in the past…yet here we are discussing whether or not he is defaming. Just seems odd.
Haha, no. Nobody’s going to think that hurling insults is meant to be factual statements. Find me any defamation case where insults were considered to be factual statements and someone was found liable for defamation.
Sure, Stephen Miller is an awful gremlin, and it’s if the presidency had any dignity, sending out someone like that as a spokesman would destroy it. But, Trump’s white house has done away with integrity, dignity, even good manners.
Still, it’s insults, insults aren’t defamation, they’re opinion not fact.
You ignore the fact that it is a senior adviser to the President. His words have a lot of weight to them and he is definitely setting himself up to be sued. Why these people are so stupid is beyond me
He also accused them of a crime. Hardly just a run of the mill insult. Accusing someone of a crime of moral turpitude when in a position of authority is a criminal act in some jurisdictions.
You really lose that it doesn’t matter what the fuck I say when you are in a position like he is. But he don’t care and so far not enough people do I guess. It is past time for the other two branches to check these clowns.
Of course I do, because that’s not relevant.
No he didn’t.
What you say when I’m in a position? WTF are you talking about.