#CNNBlackmail Fallout: Wikileaks and Even Vox Editors Call CNN's Blackmail "Extremely Unethical"

When even Vox says you've crossed an ethical line, you've crossed an ethical line.

Ted Cruz is trying to make a case out that CNN is guilty of blackmail under Georgia's law. That's a very hard case to make, because Georgia's blackmail law requires a "theft" of "property," and the best case Cruz can make is that CNN "constructively" stole (that is, did not steal) this guy's IP, and that his IP is his property.

But even though that's a hard case to make, Georgia's law is not the law that necessarily applies. Lawyers, correct me, but if this guy lives in another state, and CNN contacted him in that state, couldn't that state's law apply?

And other states define extortion and blackmail more expansively, defining them as a threat to reveal information in exchange for someone taking an action they wouldn't otherwise take, or for refraining from taking an action they otherwise would.

Some states have this explicit requirement that extortion be about property being demanded (including money, of course), but others speak only of compelling someone to do something they otherwise wouldn't or refrain from doing what they otherwise would.

More from The Federalist, including a CNN Producer's endorsement of the general #CNNBlackmail scheme of tracking down critics and threatening to dox them unless they apologize.

Not All Heroes Wear Capes Update: A guy at the Daily Caller praises CNN for its heroic daring in tracking down a Reddit gif-maker.

Just class-A stuff over here from CNN. Nothing says hero status like having to remind the world you could destroy a private citizen’s life, but instead have decided not to. So humble and brave.

Frank Rizzo's Got Nothing on Andrew Kaczinsky Flashback: There was that time that Andrew Kaczinsky challenged Ben Shapiro to a "bench off."

posted by Ace at 02:48 PM

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