If police arrested a local politician for publishing on social media unfounded allegations of embezzlement against the sheriff, the offense charged most likely would be ___ .

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Criminal libel involves the publication of a false statement of fact that harms the reputation of the person about whom it was made. In this case, the local politician's unfounded allegations of embezzlement against the sheriff on social media would likely fall under criminal libel, as it meets the criteria of a false statement of fact that harms the reputation of another person. Intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil slander may also apply, but criminal libel is the most appropriate charge in this scenario. Statutory embarrassment is not a recognized offense.

If Police Arrested a Local Politician for Publishing on Social