“NJDC’s defense is that they were just trolling the Internet for dirt on a prominent Republican so what could be wrong with that?”
The NJDC sure as hell can’t promote Obama’s record. So all that is left is digging up dirt. If that does not succeed they just make it up. You can see that in action with Obama’s latest lying adds.
Maybe one of our FR attorney's will weigh in, but I think that could be a problem. It's my understanding that the problem for a public figure is that in defamation actions actual malice has to be proved. Seems to we that when the NJDC admits they weren't speculating, or repeating a rumor or second hand nonsense ala Harry Reid (who has the sense to do it on the Senate floor), rather were looking for dirt to damage Adelson, they've done Adelson's lawyers a favor in establishing malicious intent.