Abdulrahman Alharbi was a victim in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, but Glenn Beck wrongly accused the Saudi Arabian student of being a suspect in the deadly explosions. According to Beck, Alharbi was fair game.
The Washington Post reported Thursday on a novel legal defense employed by Beck in the defamation suit filed by Alharbi earlier this year.
Alharbi, who sustained minor injuries in the blast, is suing Beck and his network, The Blaze, for implicating him in the bombing even after he was cleared by authorities.
Beck’s legal team contends that the conservative radio host, who called Alharbi the “money man” in the bombing plot and said the student faced deportation for “terrorist activities,” is actually the real victim in this case.
WaPo reported that Beck’s court filings said Alharbi is seeking to stifle the pundit’s First Amendment rights and that Alharbi was an “involuntary” public figure — a standard that if met, according to the newspaper, would render Beck’s errant observations all but irrelevant in court.
From WaPo:
In most cases involving public figures, proof of malice is so hard to demonstrate that the matter rarely goes to trial.
First, however, Beck’s lawyers will have to convince a judge that Alharbi is indeed a public figure, albeit an involuntary one, someone who thrusts himself into the limelight.
What makes Alharbi a public figure, according to Beck? “By behaving suspiciously at the Marathon finishing line when the bombs detonated, thereby causing his detention and a background check by law enforcement,” states Beck’s motion to dismiss, Alharbi “embarked on a course of conduct that was reasonably likely to result in public attention and comment on his background, activities, and immigration status.” Plus, he gave interviews defending himself, said Beck’s legal team, led by Michael J. Grygiel.
Here’s to a successful suit with a huge award.
“Plus, he gave interviews defending himself, said Beck’s legal team, led by Michael J. Grygiel.”
So I accuse Beck of being a child raping, murderer and if he dares to defend himself publicly from those allegations…he is guilty. Got it.
Garbage from Beck and now weasel words from the lawyers.
I guess he stands a chance with the Supreme Court: Fox news won a suit claiming it was not required to report the truth because it was an entertainment shop not fact based. I am sure this will go all the way.
Not that it will matter. Beck has insurance for these type of things, so he will suffer nothing from losing the suit. In fact, it will simply give him another topic to rant about for a few weeks…how unfair the justice system is to people like him.
He thrust himself into the limelight be being injured and brown? That’s their defense?
In the beginning it might have been understable to question who he was, even if responsible journalists wouldn’t have jumped the gun like Beck. But to keep it up AFTER he was cleared was absolute B.S.