When does bragging become illegal? Federal courts in California and Colorado will soon hear two cases that struggle with the question of whether lying about military service is a criminal offense. In California, Xavier Alvarez said during a public meeting that he received the Medal of Honor for his time in the Marines. Alvarez never served in the military and pleaded guilty to misrepresenting himself on the condition that he could appeal on the basis of the First Amendment. In Colorado, Rick Strandlof said he was a former Marine with a Purple Heart and Silver Star, claims which he used...
