Free Speech Under Threat in Idaho Sexual Assault Case

Wendy Olson

“The spread of false information or inflammatory or threatening statements about the perpetrators or the crime itself reduces public safety and may violate federal law."

Is that right?


Recently, we reported a case of alleged sexual assault upon a 5-year-old girl in Twin Falls, Idaho by three boys from Sudan and Iraq. It appears that certain aspects of the case were originally reported by various outlets in error; for example, that the boys were Syrians, that a knife was used and that there was actual rape as opposed to sexual assault. That caused the prosecutor in the case to issue rather heated denials. Nonetheless, charges have been brought though it is still not clear how the families of the boys came to this country.

Now the US Attorney in Idaho has entered the fray making veiled threats to prosecute those who "spread false or inflammatory information".

https://jonathanturley.org/2016/06/29/top-administration-prosecutor-idaho-threatens-prosecution-for-those-who-spread-false-information-or-engage-in-inflammatory-statements-regarding-alleged-rape-by-sudanese-teens/

Really?

Below is the reaction by Jonathan Turley, a liberal professor of law at George Washington University.

http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2016/06/more-info-on-idaho-case.html

I chose to post Turley's reaction here because while he is a liberal, I respect his opinions even if I may disagree with some of them. Here he has it right.

This is another disturbing example of Obama's Justice Department in action. This is the same mentality that leads many of them to call for prosecution of "Climate Change deniers".

What Ms Olson doesn't get is that it is not against the law to get your facts wrong when you are a member of the public speaking out on an issue of public concern. To my knowledge nobody has been threatened with violence here. People are understandably outraged and want to know if the families of these boys are, indeed, refugees brought to the Twin Falls community by their government. Don't we have a right to know?

Olson should be fired. Much like that dopey University of Missouri journalism professor (Melissa Click) , Olson has no clue about the First Amendment, which should be part of her job description. Of course, nobody will fire her.