Clay Calvert, director of the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, was quoted in “Tulsi Gabbard Sues Hillary Clinton for Defamation” published in the Washington Times on Jan. 22.

The article features a $50 million defamation lawsuit filed by the Hawaii congresswoman against Hillary Clinton for calling her a Russian asset during a podcast interview.

“It’s unlikely, given the difficulty in proving actual malice, that she will ultimately prevail in court,” said Calvert. “The ‘actual malice’ standard in cases involving public officials means Ms. Gabbard must prove Mrs. Clinton knew she wasn’t a ‘Russian asset’ at the time she made the allegation or that she made the allegation with a ‘reckless disregard for the truth.’”

He adds, “What does it mean to be a Russian asset? Does it mean you’re being paid by them? That you favor Russia? And is that really, in other words, defamatory?”

Posted: January 23, 2020
Category: College News, Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project News
Tagged as: Clay Calvert