Harming someone's reputation in speech with falsehoods is known as slander, and doing the same thing in writing is known as libel (which sometimes includes speech as well). Any ordinary citizen who can claim to have suffered harm as a result of such defamation may sue. So why aren't politicians suing all the time? Because an exception is made for "public persons" (a category that includes most other celebrities as well), who must also prove that any such statement was made with "reckless disregard for the truth". And although, even by that standard, public persons are defamed all the time, most of them have decided that it's better to just grin and bear it.
The article was full of lies and defamations. accused the newspaper columnist of defamation of character
Recent Examples on the WebMaria Bartiromo will be the next Fox News star to appear for a deposition in Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation case against the network over its airing of false claims made about the company during 2020 presidential election coverage. Stephen Battagliostaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 Depp's first major public appearance since June, when a jury ruled in his favor in a defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 29 Aug. 2022 The actor has spent the three months following the verdict of his high-profile defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard traveling and performing with his band, the Hollywood Vampires. Sam Reed, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2022 Others said that the judgement awarded against the school was excessive, since no life or limb was lost in what had only been a defamation case. Laura Hancock, cleveland, 9 Aug. 2022 But the suit against Jones was a defamation case, where the injuries are in the nature of emotional distress, not physical injuries. Robert W. Wood, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 In June, Depp won all three defamation claims in his case against Heard, 36, over her 2018 op-ed about coming forward as a survivor of domestic abuse. Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2022 In closing remarks Wednesday, Jones’s lawyer, F. Andino Reynal, had said the Infowars broadcaster and his company were prepared to pay a single dollar for each of the eight defamation claims. Elizabeth Williamson, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2022 Jurors in Austin, where Infowars is headquartered, will not hear evidence about the defamation claims but instead determine how much in compensatory and punitive damages Jones must pay the victims’ families. Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 26 July 2022 See More