freedom of speach? not if you are lying

[justalayman]

What is the name of your state? amazed, as usual.


I was not aware there is a law called the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 but apparently there is. This guy in Cali claimed he had recieved the Congressional Medal of Honor, when in fact, he had never even served in the military. He is now charged with violating the law stated previously and is fighting it on the grounds of its' constitutionality.

the prosecutors response:

But government prosecutors said in their opposition submitted Wednesday that the First Amendment does not protect deliberate falsehoods.

[url]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/04/state/n053954S17.DTL[/url]

[quincy]

The First Amendment seems to protect deliberate lies about National Guard service, however.

I thought this Stolen Valor Act would lead to free speech challenges - it was certainly discussed a lot prior to passage.