Liar, Liar, The Supreme Court's On Fire.

The case before the Supreme Court this week involves a California man, Xavier Alvarez. He was an elected member of a water district.  In 2007, at a public meeting, Alvarez said he was an ex-Marine who had rescued an American ambassador and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

It was a great story. It was also a lie.  Alvarez kept up the lie until he was caught.  The Supreme Court must decide if the First Amendment protects guys like Alvarez from prosecution.

The federal appeals court judge who helped overturn Alvarez' conviction (for violating the Stolen Valor Act) said "If false factual statements are unprotected, then the government can prosecute not only the man who tells tall tales of winning the Congressional Medal of Honor but also the JDater who falsely claims he is Jewish or the dentist who assures you it won't hurt a bit."

Congress, the White House and veteran's groups all consider false military claims uniquely harmful.  Please tell us what you think.


~ Steve Leader and Rebecca Marshall

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