Beck made a whole series of remarks that, if the reporting of them in the Washington Post is correct, defame this man (provided he hasn't done anything bad, anything we don't know about). Besides asserting "we know he is a very bad, bad, bad man,” Beck said the government had "tagged" him "a proven terrorist." That accusation, by the way, which Beck alleges was made by a party other than himself, is one that falls into the category of charges that even Jesse says is libelous. In addition, Beck called Alharbi an al-Qaeda “control agent” and the “money man” behind the attacks. “You know who the Saudi is?” Beck asked. “He’s the money man. He’s the guy who paid for it.” “Is this speculation or are you reporting something?” a co-host asked. Beck ignored the question. “He’s the money man.” According to the Washington Post, these kinds of attacks were repeated over a series of days. Whether the Saudi is a member of Al Quaeda, a proven terrorist, someone involved in the attacks and/or the "money man" behind them are not matters of opinion. They are matters of fact, and to avoid libel, Beck would have to prove them. If he can't, he'll lose. Furthermore, he may well be guilty of "actual malice," of making his charges with "reckless disregard" of whether they were true.
Beck made a whole series of remarks that, if the reporting of them in the Washington Post is correct, defame this man (provided he hasn't done anything bad, anything we don't know about). Besides asserting "we know he is a very bad, bad, bad man,” Beck said the government had "tagged" him "a proven terrorist." That accusation, by the way, which Beck alleges was made by a party other than himself, is one that falls into the category of charges that even Jesse says is libelous. In addition, Beck called Alharbi an al-Qaeda “control agent” and the “money man” behind the attacks. “You know who the Saudi is?” Beck asked. “He’s the money man. He’s the guy who paid for it.” “Is this speculation or are you reporting something?” a co-host asked. Beck ignored the question. “He’s the money man.” According to the Washington Post, these kinds of attacks were repeated over a series of days. Whether the Saudi is a member of Al Quaeda, a proven terrorist, someone involved in the attacks and/or the "money man" behind them are not matters of opinion. They are matters of fact, and to avoid libel, Beck would have to prove them. If he can't, he'll lose. Furthermore, he may well be guilty of "actual malice," of making his charges with "reckless disregard" of whether they were true.