Politics & Government
Glenn Beck Settles Boston Marathon Bombing Defamation Case: Report
The settlement came after a Boston judge ordered the conservative media personality to name his confidential sources.
Conservative talkshow host and political commentator Glenn Beck has reportedly reached an undisclosed settlement with a Saudi student who previously accused him of defamation in connection with stories Beck produced on the Boston Marathon bombing.
In that 2013 coverage, Beck named Saudi Arabian student Abdulrahman Alharbi, now 23, and living in Revere, as the bombers' "money man" and as the man who ordered the attack. This, even after federal authorities publicly exonerated Alharbi, a spectator at the race who was previously questioned by federal officials.
After the feds publicly proclaimed his innocence and Beck persisted in his claims, Alharbi brought the suit in Boston court. On Aug. 9, U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris ordered Beck to disclose the confidential sources he says gave him the story.
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On Tuesday, Politico reported that Beck, along with related companies TheBlaze Inc., Mercury Radio Arts, and radio distributor Premiere Radio Networks, have reached an out-of-court settlement with Alharbi.
The news website shared a joint statement released by both sides in the case, which said:
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"The parties in this matter have reached a settlement of the pending action. The terms of the settlement are confidential. No party has admitted any fault, wrongdoing, or responsibility as part of the settlement. Defendants have agreed to settlement of the pending action in furtherance of fundamental principles of journalistic integrity by preserving the confidentiality of their sources consistent with their rights and privileges under the First Amendment. The Plaintiff has pursued this action for the reasons set forth in his Complaint and believes those interests have been served by this resolution."
Read more from Politico here.
>> Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr/Creative Commons
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