Two of my clients in the pilots litigation flagged an article by conservative Republican activist and attorney Debbie Schlussel reporting that I am funded by the Bin Laden family and using the Brown family as a front for an Islamic radical agenda. Ms. Schlussel previously attracted national attention by writing in the aftermath of Bin Laden’s death “1 down, 1.8 billion more to go.” She was also denounced for her statement that CBS reporter Lara Logan deserved to be raped while covering the protests in Egypt — a statement rightfully criticized by David Drumm (which she attributes to me). The article by Ms. Schlussel is clearly defamatory and neither she nor her attorney has responded to inquiries over the last couple days.
The article is entitled “EXCLUSIVE: “Sister Wives” Lawsuit is Front for Islam, Sharia Bigamy; Lawyer Got Big $s From Islamic Terrorists” published on July 13, 2011. In addition to the false headline, the article contains repeated false statements, including but not limited to:
“Make no mistake, Turley–sleazebag lawyer for Islamic terrorists, including Islamic Jihad founder and convicted terrorist, Sami Al-Arian–is filing this one for his Muslim friends and patrons and using these bozos from Utah as his cover for what he’s really seeking here. Reportedly, the Bin Laden family paid for Turley’s failed defense of Al-Arian, just as the Bin Ladens reportedly paid for the Al-Arian kids’ expensive college and grad school educations.”
It is rather hard to locate Ms. Schlussel who lists her address on copies of complaints on her blog as “The Law Office of Debbie Schlussel, writedebbie@gmail.com. I have sent a letter to one address found on a brief and I have tried to contact the lawyer who represented her as a defendant in a prior action, Mr. Andrew Kochanowski of Sommers and Schwartz. It is not known if Sommers and Schwartz or Mr. Kochanowski represents Ms. Schlussel in such matters.
I honestly do not know much about Ms. Schlussel. Her blog describes her as “a lifelong conservative Republican activist.” She solicits contributions and advertisers on her blog, which blog features ads from such groups as The International Federation of Christian and Jews, though the blog is characterized by hyperbolic and often hateful commentary. Ms. Schlussel cites her appearances on shows ranging from Bill O’Reilly to Rush Limbaugh. The blog claims “[h]er online fan club is the Internet’s second largest for a political personality–behind only Ann Coulter.”
The blog further states:
Schlussel, who speaks Hebrew, Arabic, French, and Russian, works closely with several Federal law enforcement agencies, consulting on fighting the domestic War on Terrorism, and has provided them with much useful information. She has gone undercover, infiltrating many Muslim organizations in the Detroit area (the heart of Islamic America), exposing their radical nature and support for terrorism. Schlussel continues to represent a very valuable Muslim confidential informant to several federal government agencies, who has been responsible for putting hundreds with terrorism connections behind bars.
It is not clear how one puts a terrorism “connection” behind bars but presumably that means hundreds of terrorists put in jail with the help of Ms. Schlussel. Given the relatively modest number of terrorism cases each year, that is an extraordinary feat.
It is widely known that I represent both the Brown and Dr. Al-Arian on a pro bono basis. I, of course, have received no money from the Bin Laden family.
For years, I have defended people on these pages accused of hate speech or blasphemy crimes in other countries. For examples, click here and here and here. It is therefore highly ironic to find myself the target of such hateful speech.
Like many civil libertarians, I oppose the criminalization of speech. Ms. Schlussel’s past statements (such the statement concerning the deaths of all Muslims) would likely be viewed as criminal speech in some these countries and I would be the first to defend her right to such opinions, no matter how hateful or vile. However, as the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan observed, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Indeed, I have long encouraged for countries like France and England to allow citizens to seek relief in civil lawsuits when hateful statements are false. People will often publish false statements — like attorneys being extensions of terrorist groups — to deter others from considering controversial cases or simply to punish those who take such cases. The result is to not just defame people but degrade the level of discourse in our society.
The question is whether people of good faith should simply walk away from such libelous and malicious statements or whether we have a duty to bring such people to the courts for judgment. A defamation action against Ms. Schlussel may serve the public as a pro bono effort in maintaining the minimal standards of civility and accuracy in public debate. I will be discussing such an action with friends and colleagues.
The article remains posted and Ms. Schlussel has not issued a retraction or an apology, as requested.
Jonathan Turley
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/04/06/obama-embraces-al-sharpton-with-major-appearance/ Here it is, Mike. Some think if you mention race or class that you are a race baiter or for class warfare.
There…There, nice doggie “it”, I’ve even taught you to answer to your name. Now doggie roll over…………
Research – It’s a wonderful thing if ones’ data is trustworthy and not manipulated.
“For weeks, many of us have been shocked by the use of controversial Al Sharpton as a host on “MSNBC Live.” We have followed Sharpton’s long litany of alleged criminal violations and race-baiting tactics.”
Eniobob,
Could you provide a link to that, I’m interested in the context.
“If an attorney represents a terrorist group, that attorney is an extension of that terrorist group. They should be treated as such.”
This is a very interesting theory. Reminds me of something that Stalin, Kim
Il Jong, or any other tyants and/or their henchmen might say. It bespeaks an utter disdain for the democratic notion that any accused deserves a fair trial and by extension that torture by a country’s minions is legal. Many who know the Law might say that a person who would make a statement such as this is Anti-American. They might also infer that this particular person shows up once in a while to try to promote interest in their unfortunate blog.
Any defendant has the right to an attorney, no matter what the charges are or leaked evidence to the media is. However, in Countries such as the USSR, China and NAZI Germany that right would seem academic. It is too bad there are people, purportedly loyal Americans who lack any basic concept of justice and are also shameless in their self promotion.
I think Keith Olbermann was right about her.
Professor we all know better,but this lady is doing to you what has been done here:
“For weeks, many of us have been shocked by the use of controversial Al Sharpton as a host on “MSNBC Live.” We have followed Sharpton’s long litany of alleged criminal violations and race-baiting tactics.”
And she is saying this about you:
” that I am funded by the Bin Laden family and using the Brown family as a front for an Islamic radical agenda”
This is how these things get started.
IMHO.
Just looking over Ms. Schlussel’s blog for the first time… this thing has to be satire, right?
fwiw
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I concur with mespo’s comment of 3:14pm.
@ millsapian87,
I simply do not want to observe a man—who I think is one of the few preeminent free speech advocates—champion what I consider to be a potentially chilling effect on free speech, especially involving Internet bloggers. Professor Turley has stated the facts and they squarely refute what Ms. Schlussel stated. Any reasonable person understands that she is wrong and very misguided regarding this situation.
Ms. Schlussel deserves piteous scorn instead of a court summons. A widely acknowledged judicious prince of a fellow should not trifle with the antics of an injudicious court jester.
ignore her, one of the best things she can find to say about herself is that she’s second behind mAnn coulter.
talk about low mAnn on the totem pole.
@jonolan
“Research – it’s a wonderful thing, if one can find trustworthy data.”
Maybe you should research before you post.
jonolan
“If an attorney represents a terrorist group, that attorney is an extension of that terrorist group. They should be treated as such.”
Just as a lawyer who represents a murderer, bank-robber or crooked politician is by extension, guilty of the same crime.
“She has gone undercover, infiltrating many Muslim organizations in the Detroit area (the heart of Islamic America), exposing their radical nature and support for terrorism.”
It must be very difficult to pull this off, being female, blonde and blue-eyed.
Stumbled on this:
http://rightwingnews.com/conservatives/the-debbie-schlussel-experience-part-2-the-fixation/
rafflaw,
I have to correct that assertion; he’s not actually a member of the House of Saud, though he might have as been since his father was that close to King Faisal – to the point of paying the entirety of the government payroll for six months after the change of rule.
Research – it’s a wonderful thing, if one can find trustworthy data.
Wow! This lady makes Orly Taitz look like an amateur. I think that defamation should be dealt with when you have a professional reputation to uphold. I think these actions go beyond any public figure exceptions because she has absolutely no proof of her claim that prof. Turley is paid by the Bin Laden family.
jonolan, I didn’t realize that the Bin Laden family was part of the royal House of Saud.
At some point a situation like this one may have to be addressed because it can not be entirely personal to the person defamed. If it become an allegation widely read it may become an issue for ones children or spouse. Ones business partners may tainted by association and incur economic damage. Ones employer may get unwelcome notoriety due to unfounded allegations.
Ones good name is hard currency across a number of public and personal platforms. It echos through time with each succeeding generation as a gift or curse to be passed on.
One could wait until there is a verdict in the Brown case and see if a pattern of defamation emerges, on the thought that the 3rd time is the charm. It’s a tough call and one I don’t envy the Professor having to make.
FFLEO, you know better than that. The notion of “free speech” as codified in the First Amendment only applies to the government. There is no carte blanche right to say anything you want without consequences.
Schussel is a lot like Pam Geller. She don’t give a shit about requests for retractions & apologies & the like. The only thing that would get her attention would be notification of a lawsuit, if only because she or her funding source would be required to lawyer up and respond.
Being a bastion of free speech rights doesn’t mean Turley has to acquiesce to defamation. If someone was talking this kinda shit about you would you just shrug and say that she has a right to slander your good name? Because in some circles silence equals assent.