benefit of the doubt this

Yated Ne'eman, Dei'ah veDibur: Thursday Night Plenary Session at Agudath Israel of America's 84th National Convention. The money quote from Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman, rosh hayeshiva of Yeshiva Maor Yitzchok and rav of Congregation Ahavas Torah (Monsey) "Balderdash, Blogs and Bashing":

In American libel law, he explained, "truth is an absolute defense," whereas the prohibition against loshon hora concerns accurate information. And when it comes to public figures, even outright untruths are protected by American law, as long as "actual malice" cannot be proven. How "diametrically opposed," observed Rabbi Zwiebel, is the halachic attitude toward the slander of Torah leaders, which is considered an especially grievous sin. Indeed, he noted, halochoh requires that talmidei chachomim be judged favorably even in situations where other people may not be entitled to the benefit of the doubt.

Bastards, all of them... Hirhurim: Agudah on Blogs II.