re: #35 KGxvi

The problem Gabbard has is that she is a public figure and thus must meet the standard of actual malice. In this case, Clinton can argue that she was merely stating a political opinion about a politician. And that’s likely protected speech under the first amendment. She can also raise truth as a defense, and Gabbard does have a history of saying shit that sounds a lot like the Russian or Syrian talking points.

Clinton’s exact quote was, “I’m not making any predictions, but I think they’ve got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate.” She was responding to a question about Republicans, so the “they’ve” in that context refers to the GOP.

She was speaking about Stein when she said, “She’s the favorite of the Russians.”

Both are clear opinions about who she thinks these third party groups are grooming / like and aren’t actionable in the slightest.