AMI: National Enquirer threats to Bezos were just "Good Faith Negotiations"

[brooklynite]

Link to tweet

[Pachamama]

1. Wow...,

Incredible

[hatrack]

2. Looks like oxygen levels are falling fast in the AMI bubble

Womp Fucking Womp.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. With what is known today, can they be closed by court injunction?

...at least temporarily? I have no idea - that's why I'm asking.

[brooklynite]

8. Answer: no

Legal culpability rests with the corporate entity and/or it's Officers, not the publication itself.

[Dennis Donovan]

9. What if the publication is the "weapon" in which they are committing crimes?

I know, maybe a dumb question, but, again, I really don't know so I'm asking.

[theboss]

14. Jesus Christ, no

How are you arriving at that?

[Dennis Donovan]

15. I am asking a question because I don't know.

Despite my disclaimer, I still received a nasty reply. Thanks.

[theboss]

16. I apologize. I'm a First Amendment absolutist so that kind of thing gets me excited

Renato Mariotti has a predicted this defense yesterday:

https://twitter.com/renato_mariotti

Scroll down a bit as I can't see to link the specific thread.

Here is the basic idea. Extortion is really hard to prove, particularly in a contractual setting.

I explained it yesterday like this. You have been running a blog for a year where you are openly criticizing my business practices to the point that it is hurting me. One day, I wake up and in my email is a copy of an HR investigation from one of your past jobs that shows you were accused of sexual harassment. I did nothing illegal in getting it, but I have it.

I email you and say, I have this document and I'm thinking about starting my own blog and publishing it. Instead of that, why don't I agree to delete the document if you agree to delete your blog after issuing a retraction.

Am I blackmailing you....or am I negotiating to a mutually beneficial conclusion? I would argue the latter, and I think the courts would tend to agree.

Where this gets interesting is two places:

1. What does Ronan Farow and others have of their own discussions with AMI? In other words, is this a tactic to kill all criticism.
2. Did anyone in Trump World ask them to do this or know they were doing this?

[Stargazer09]

4. In other words...

“We did not expect Bezos to publish our extortion threats. Please stand by while we figure out how to salvage this situation.”

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. 'Blackmail is such an ugly word.'

[spanone]

6. Now extortion is 'good faith negotiations'?

[theboss]

17. It's a good defense and may be successful

Here is the basic idea. Extortion is really hard to prove, particularly in a contractual setting.

I explained it yesterday like this. You have been running a blog for a year where you are openly criticizing my business practices to the point that it is hurting me. One day, I wake up and in my email is a copy of an HR investigation from one of your past jobs that shows you were accused of sexual harassment. I did nothing illegal in getting it, but I have it.

I email you and say, I have this document and I'm thinking about starting my own blog and publishing it. Instead of that, why don't I agree to delete the document if you agree to delete your blog after issuing a retraction.

Am I blackmailing you....or am I negotiating to a mutually beneficial conclusion? I would argue the latter, and I think the courts would tend to agree.

Where this gets interesting is two places:

1. What does Ronan Farow and others have of their own discussions with AMI? In other words, is this a tactic to kill all criticism.
2. Did anyone in Trump World ask them to do this or know they were doing this?

[Roland99]

7. So THAT'S what Twitler meant by "people of good faith"

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

10. They better find a new attorney

They're dead fucking wrong

[theboss]

18. Unfortunately, they aren't

I'm just cutting and pasting this example, because I think it's helpful.

Here is the basic idea. Extortion is really hard to prove, particularly in a contractual setting.

I explained it yesterday like this. You have been running a blog for a year where you are openly criticizing my business practices to the point that it is hurting me. One day, I wake up and in my email is a copy of an HR investigation from one of your past jobs that shows you were accused of sexual harassment. I did nothing illegal in getting it, but I have it.

I email you and say, I have this document and I'm thinking about starting my own blog and publishing it. Instead of that, why don't I agree to delete the document if you agree to delete your blog after issuing a retraction.

Am I blackmailing you....or am I negotiating to a mutually beneficial conclusion? I would argue the latter, and I think the courts would tend to agree.

Where this gets interesting is two places:

1. What does Ronan Farow and others have of their own discussions with AMI? In other words, is this a tactic to kill all criticism.
2. Did anyone in Trump World ask them to do this or know they were doing this?

[peggysue2]

11. So, we've now come to a point in time where . . .

extortion = good faith negotiations.

Good to know. Isn't the Age of Trump fun????

Shut these people down, tout suite.

[liberalmuse]

12. "Who knew extortion was illegal?"

I would love to see a lot of the people AMI extorted in this manner start to speak out.

[theboss]

19. That's where this starts to get interesting

Is exactly what is the pattern here?

(I mean, this is interesting from a pure "how sleazy" idea right now. But it probably doesn't reach to criminality quite yet).

[California_Republic]

13. That's a scene from the Godfather right?