Quoting Freeper Cboldt:
So far, nobody on this board has posted a credible citation for the proposition that CBS and Dan Rather are guilty of anything more than defaming GWB (not criminal. civil liability only) and journalism fraud (not criminal, self-policed by the so-called journalism profession. Did you know Mike Barnicle is still working?).
I have looked at forgery law from many angles, and forgery of history is not illegal. No present legal rights, or legal records (e.g., title to vehicles) are affected by these forgeries. The only thing possibly affected, if one believed the forgeries were authentic, is a voter's decision. That isn't vote fraud - we are fed lies all the time about candidates, and that is not vote fraud.
So, what I ask is if you have or see a credible and sufficiently detailed citation (statute, case law) for the proposition that a crime has been committed, let me know.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1216465/posts?page=133#133 <-- Read on from here
This may have already been covered by others, but...
US Code > TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 63 > Sec. 1343. - Fraud by wire, radio, or television
Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both
And, as I learned from John Grisham, that's for each count, so if Rather and company have covered this in the two 60 Minutes II pieces and the newscasts Friday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, that's 6 counts, minimum, and at least 120 years potential jail time. I think the sentencing guideline calls for 5 years minimum, so that would be minimum 30 years.
Also, notice that it is to "defraud or for obtaining money..." You could make the argument that they are getting advertising money by fraud, but that's not necessary. I think in this case "defraud" would not need to include monetary gain, directly.