Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Idaho Lawmaker Proposes Bill Making Malicious Lies a Felony Offense
A new legislative proposal in Idaho aims to reshape the consequences for falsely accusing others. House Speaker Mike Moyle recently introduced a bill that would classify knowingly lying about another person as a felony, punishable by significant fines and prison time.
Understanding the Proposed Legislation
The proposed bill seeks to outlaw the publication of false statements about individuals if done with actual malice. Moyle defined actual malice as either knowing a statement is false or showing reckless disregard for its truthfulness.
Additionally, the bill specifies that to publish includes any form of communication made to individuals or groups. This could bring substantial changes to the legal landscape surrounding libel and defamation in Idaho.
Impact of Malicious Statements
To illustrate the bill’s intention, Moyle provided a vivid example. He stated that it would be unlawful to unjustly yell
