Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Glenn Beck’s audacious defense against Boston Marathon bombings defamation suit
Washington Post ^ | July 24, 2014 | Terrence McCoy

Posted on 07/24/2014 8:25:40 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia

On April 15 of last year, a thin kid with a bright smile named Abdulrahman Alharbi decided he would stop and watch the Boston Marathon for a few minutes. A Saudi Arabian studying English in Boston, he had heard of the famous marathon, but wanted to see it in the flesh, he later explained to one journalist. Ten minutes later, he witnessed what he first mistook for fireworks.

--snip--

Alharbi, like numerous others in the chaotic few hours following the deadly bombings, was questioned by police. They asked for his Facebook password. He gave it to them. They asked to inspect his apartment. He allowed it. News of Alharbi reached the media, but by the next day, the cops had cleared the 20-year-old. “He has been checked out,” a law enforcement official told the Boston Globe. “He is not involved. He is just a victim.”

Broadcaster Glenn Beck, formerly of Fox News, was nonetheless suspicious of Alharbi. He thought the Obama administration was hiding Alharbi’s involvement. So three weeks later, Beck urged the government to release its information on Alharbi or else Beck would “expose” him.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bostonmarathon; crazybeck; glennbeck
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

1 posted on 07/24/2014 8:25:40 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: rightwingintelligentsia

Why is it OK for the liberals do do this daily but the right is supposed to be quiet?


2 posted on 07/24/2014 8:30:29 AM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightwingintelligentsia

bttt


3 posted on 07/24/2014 8:30:57 AM PDT by preacher (I am not a global warming hoax denier.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightwingintelligentsia

Oh effff Beck. Weepy Whiny illegal hugger.


4 posted on 07/24/2014 8:31:08 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightwingintelligentsia

How did Abdulrahman Alharbi rate a personal visit from FLOTUS, or was that someone else?


5 posted on 07/24/2014 8:32:44 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightwingintelligentsia

‘So three weeks later, Beck urged the government to release its information on Alharbi or else Beck would “expose” him.’

I remember when I actually used to believe Beck’s hype: how he would ‘expose’ people, how he had confidential information from ‘unnamed sources,’ and all that jazz.

What a fool I was.


6 posted on 07/24/2014 8:33:34 AM PDT by Cato in PA (Resist!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightwingintelligentsia
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.

All of this is sound legal reasoning from the legal viewpoint of "thrusting oneself into the vortex of a public controversy." The American legal standard on defamation for public figures has always included the "knowingly false and with malicious intent" test, sort of like media darlings did to Sarah Palin.

Alharbi tinkled away his private person status the moment he gave public press interviews.

7 posted on 07/24/2014 8:36:58 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightwingintelligentsia
"A Saudi Arabian studying English in Boston..."

He had to come to the U.S. to study English? What a crock.

8 posted on 07/24/2014 8:37:18 AM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mass55th

He liked the book: “How to Serve your Fellow Man”


9 posted on 07/24/2014 8:39:56 AM PDT by Scrambler Bob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cato in PA

I think that Beck stepped in it this time. He has been rather careful in the past, showing the insight to sidestep other potholes that caught his buddy, Shawn.

I do applaud him for fighting this. He would save money if he would just pay the kid off, but it appears that he is going to the mat. I wish that I saw more backbone when it comes to these sharks.


10 posted on 07/24/2014 8:40:25 AM PDT by Mr. Quarterpanel (I am not an actor, but I play one on TV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Fresh Wind
How did Abdulrahman Alharbi rate a personal visit from FLOTUS, or was that someone else?

That's what I thought, too. Was it just coincidence that she visited this guy (if it's the same guy)?

11 posted on 07/24/2014 8:44:49 AM PDT by Jane Long ("And when thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Vaquero; All

Beck, still sucking I guess.

(I may have mentioned it before)


12 posted on 07/24/2014 8:49:40 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves" Month.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: rightwingintelligentsia
or else Beck would “expose” him.

I remember hearing Beck say he was going to expose the guy, and that he was a really, really bad guy, but nothing ever came of that?

13 posted on 07/24/2014 8:50:43 AM PDT by dware (3 prohibited topics in mixed company: politics, religion and operating systems...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightwingintelligentsia
They asked for his Facebook password. He gave it to them. They asked to inspect his apartment. He allowed it.

Bad ideas, kid.

14 posted on 07/24/2014 8:53:01 AM PDT by PlasticMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightwingintelligentsia
Plus, he gave interviews defending himself, said Beck’s legal team, led by Michael J. Grygiel.

This is the biggest example of brazen idiocy short of an accused matricide/parricide pleading for mercy because he's an orphan.

15 posted on 07/24/2014 8:53:01 AM PDT by PlasticMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dware

“I remember hearing Beck say he was going to expose the guy, and that he was a really, really bad guy, but nothing ever came of that?

I think that was one of Beck’s, “THE WORLD WILL SPLIT IN HALF WITH WHAT I WILL TELL YOU TOMORROW!!! SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER AND TV SHOW NOW!!!”, drama queen acts.


16 posted on 07/24/2014 8:55:53 AM PDT by CodeToad (Arm Up! They Are!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

That’s when I started souring on Beck. He never did follow up on his so-called ‘revelation’. Pffffft.


17 posted on 07/24/2014 9:12:13 AM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Great vid by ShorelineMike! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOZjJk6nbD4&feature=plcp)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Scrambler Bob
“How to Serve your Fellow Man”

Um, Survivalist cookbook?

18 posted on 07/24/2014 9:12:44 AM PDT by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: mass55th
He had to come to the U.S. to study English?

If I had to study English, I don't think I'd choose Boston.

19 posted on 07/24/2014 9:13:46 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: PlasticMan
They accused Beck of "bootstrapping," creating his own defense by making a public figure out of Alharbi.

Concur.

20 posted on 07/24/2014 9:15:45 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("The Arab Spring is over. Welcome to the Jihadi Spring." Jonah Goldberg)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson