When they planned this smear, they probably thought it was the perfect crime since Killian was dead, and would be unable to respond. They did not count on Killian's son or widow to say anything, not to mention their fellow travelers in the MSM.
No .. they didn't count on the public being smart enough to figure out the truth
If it hadn't been for Freepers, Powerline and a few others .. no one would have talked to Killian's widow and son