Proposed Idaho state law could make some lies a felony crime with prison time
An Idaho lawmaker is pushing a bill that, if passed, would make knowingly lying about another person a felony crime in the state.
House Speaker Mike Moyle introduced the bill on Friday, which would prohibit a person "with actual malice" from publishing a false statement about another person.
According to the Idaho Press, the bill defines "actual malice" as knowing the statement is false or with reckless disregard as to whether or not the statement is false.
The bill also defines "publish" as "communicate to a person or persons."
Moyle shared an example with the outlet, explaining that it would be illegal to yell "fire" in a crowded room if there wasn't a fire.
"I'm a firm believer in our First Amendment right, but I also believe that our founding fathers did not include in the First Amendment as being able to lie about somebody," Moyle said.
If the bill passes, the penalty would be up to a $100,000 fine, up to five years in prison, or both prison and a fine.
The outlet reported that the bill would also allow the attorney general or county prosecuting attorney to pursue prosecution if the statement is made about a state elected official or state employee in regard to their official conduct.
Under the new bill, someone convicted of "criminal libel" would also be responsible for providing restitution to the victim for specific costs incurred or lost as a result of the false statement.
The House State Affairs Committee unanimously introduced the bill. However, Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, said he would like a legal analysis of the potential First Amendment issues the bill could raise.
"My concern is that if you make every liar a felon, then we're going to be in a lot of trouble, not enough room in our jails," Skaug said.
Libel in Idaho code is currently defined as "malicious defamation," which is expressed in order to "blacken the memory of one who is dead, or to impeach the honesty, integrity, virtue or reputation, or publish the natural or alleged defects, of one who is alive, and thereby to expose him to public hatred, contempt or ridicule."
The punishment for the current Idaho code is a fine of up to $5,000 or confinement in county jail for up to six months.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
CNN Correspondent Detained By LAPD, Camera Crew Arrested
CNN National Correspondent Jason Carroll, who has been reporting on the unrest in Los Angeles for the past few days, found himself a part of the story tonight when he was detained and briefly questioned by Police in Los Angeles. During a live shot, Carroll is heard telling police his name and then seen being walked away with his hands behind his back. More from Deadline Jon Stewart Weighs In On L.A. Protests, Says Trump Is Escalating To Distract From Elon Musk's Epstein Accusation: "Petty And Petulant Man-Babies" Trump Sending Marines To L.A. To Respond To ICE Protests; POTUS Also Plans To Deploy Additional 2,000 Guard Troops, Gavin Newsom Says - Update BET Awards Set To Go On Amid LA Protests Against Immigration Raids A police officer is then heard saying, 'We're letting you go. You can't come back. If you come back, you will be arrested.' Carroll is heard to say, 'Ok.' You can see the scene below. CNN later reported that, while Carroll was released, two members of his camera crew were arrested. Carroll described the scene to Laura Coates back in the studio: 'I was walking over to the officer, tried to explain who I was, who I was with. He said, I'd like you to turn around. I turned around, I put my hands behind my back. They did not put me in zip ties, but they did grab both my hands as I was escorted over to the side, they said, you are being detained.' Carroll is not the first member of the press to get caught between police and protesters. On Sunday, Lauren Tomasi, the U.S. correspondent for Australia's 9News, appeared to be shot by a rubber bullet while reporting on the immigration protests. Nick Stern, a British news photographer, reportedly needed emergency surgery over the weekend after sustaining a leg wound during the clashes. A coalition of 27 press and civil liberties advocacy groups wrote to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem today 'to express alarm that federal officers may have violated the First Amendment rights of journalists covering recent protests and unrest related to immigration enforcement in the Los Angeles area.' The coalition, led by the Los Angeles Press Club, First Amendment Coalition and Freedom of the Press Foundation, further wrote that 'The press plays an essential role in our democracy as the public's eyes and ears. The timely reporting of breaking news is necessary to provide the public with complete information, especially about controversial events. 'A number of reports suggest that federal officers have indiscriminately used force or deployed munitions such as tear gas or pepper balls that caused significant injuries to journalists. In some cases, federal officers appear to have deliberately targeted journalists who were doing nothing more than their job covering the news.' The LA Press Club referred to at least 24 'documented' instances of journalists being targeted by law enforcement while covering the protests in Los Angeles between June 6-8, and multiple media workers report having been shot by police with less-than-lethal munitions. Those journalists included Southern California News Group's Ryanne Mena, freelance journalists Anthony Cabassa and Sean Beckner-Carmitchel, The Southlander's Ben Camacho, British photojournalist Nick Stern, and LA Taco's Lexis Olivier-Ray. City News Service contributed to this report. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media Where To Watch All The 'John Wick' Movies: Streamers That Have All Four Films
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PA House passes bill requiring American-made steel in tax-payer funded projects
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill Monday requiring American-made steel for all tax-payer funded projects. State law already requires government projects to use American-made steel. However, H.B. 1018 would extend this requirement to private entities receiving public funds or tax incentives. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'This is one way to bring back good-paying, family-sustaining jobs – by leveling the playing field for hardworking people and industries that were economically steamrolled by unfair competition,' said Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria), who sponsored the bill. The bill, which is a part of Burns' larger 'American Made Jobs Plan,' passed the House 200-2. It will now move to the Senate for concurrence. Mexican aluminum, steel exporters say sales in US down 63% due to tariffs The bill comes as tariffs have driven down the demand for foreign-made steel. In February, President Donald Trump ordered a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian steel and aluminum imports. Exporters of Mexican steel and aluminum said that has led to a 63% drop in sales to the United States. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Charlotte rally calls response to anti-ICE protests in LA ‘state-sanctioned violence'
East Charlotte resident Vincent Kolb's grandmother crossed the border without documentation near El Paso, Texas more than 100 years ago. Her dream was simple: a better life for her children. 'That's the real immigrant story of America — not the one that is being purposed and propagandized by the current administration,' Kolb said. He joined around 40 people outside of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center Monday afternoon to rally against ICE raids across the country and President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles. The Charlotte group held signs reading 'Free David Now' and chanted in-between speeches from organizers. The Trump administration made a number of immigration arrests across Southern California Friday, prompting days of protests, according to the Los Angeles Times. Despite objections from L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, Trump activated around 2,000 National Guard troops in response to violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday the state would file a lawsuit against the administration's deployment. 'Today, we are here to show that this is not going to fly in this country,' Jacob Plitman, lead organizer with SEIU 32BJ, said at the rally. 'It's not going to fly in the City of Charlotte, and we demand that they stop the raids.' Organizers also called for the release of David Huerta, president of SEIU California and SEIU United Service Workers West, who was arrested Friday during the L.A. protests for allegedly interfering with law enforcement activity. Plitman said Huerta was exercising his First Amendment rights when he was detained. Huerta made his first appearance in court Monday and was released on a $50,000 bond, the Los Angeles Times reported. 'The arrest of David Huerta is not only an attack on our community — it is an attack on our democracy. It is an attack on every worker in this country,' Stefanía Arteaga, co-executive director of the Carolina Migrant Network said during the rally. Additional speakers from Southeast Asian Coalition and Charlotte-Metrolina Labor Council expressed concern about how the federal government is engaging with anti-ICE protesters. Arteaga called it 'state-sanctioned violence.' The economy of the United States does not function without immigrants, Plitman said, noting that Charlotte grocery stores, airport operations and cleaning services all rely on immigrant labor. 'You can't walk down the streets of Charlotte and not point to something where an immigrant, whether documented or not, had an impact,' said Sebastian Feculak, first vice president of the CLC. Charlotte's growth, Plitman said, is thanks to immigrant labor. According to the NC Department of Commerce, 29% of construction workers and around 20% of agricultural workers are foreign-born. He called on local elected officials to better support immigrants and on community members to peacefully demonstrate. The administration can tell the difference between a city 'that's going to let this happen' and a 'strong, organized city that can demonstrate solidarity,' Plitman added. 'I think the more solidarity that we can demonstrate, the more likely we are to protect ourselves,' he said.
