“She’s a public figure. No cause of action.”
Well, she only became a public figure because of the story. Who the heck knew who she was before that? I don’t want to dub every government employee a public figure, given that there are (not literally) billions of ‘em.
By the way, public figures can sue for libel, slander, defamation, etc. It just depends on the circumstances. If it’s a cartoon insinuating Jerry Falwell had sex with his mother, that’s one thing. Satire must be free. But serious lies in serious sources might be a different matter.
I disagree that she wasn't already a public figure before the incident. The NAACP knew who she was. She was a fairly high ranking government bureaucrat who was asked to speak to a national civil rights organization (or at least a branch of it).
But serious lies in serious sources might be a different matter.
Serious lies like posting her videotaped words without alteration? Who are you going to believe - her or your lying eyes and ears?