前北达科他州立法者对一项将虚假政治言论定为犯罪的法律提起诉讼,称该法违反了《第一修正案》。 A former North Dakota lawmaker sues over a law criminalizing false political speech, arguing it violates the First Amendment.

前北达科他州议员布兰登·普里查德(Brandon Prichard)提出联邦诉讼, 质疑将虚假或误导政治言论定为犯罪的州法律, 认为这违反了第一修正案。 Former North Dakota lawmaker Brandon Prichard has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state’s law that criminalizes false or misleading political speech, arguing it violates the First Amendment. 他声称,法律被用来压制保守派的声音,他引用了同一位立法者一起写的一封未经核实的停止和否定信。 He claims the law has been used to silence conservative voices, citing an unverified cease-and-desist letter from a fellow lawmaker. 法律专家说,其他各州的类似法律也被推翻,包括被美国最高法院推翻。 最高法院裁定,将政治谎言定罪(如《被盗物价法案》)是违宪的。 Legal experts say similar laws in other states have been struck down, including by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that criminalizing political lies—such as in the Stolen Valor Act—is unconstitutional. 法院一般甚至保护虚假的政治言论,将其与可起诉的诽谤行为区分开来。 Courts generally protect even false political speech, distinguishing it from actionable defamation. 预计该案将遵循既定先例,很可能得出以下结论:对政治误导行为的刑事处罚违反了言论自由保护。 The case is expected to follow established precedent, likely concluding that criminal penalties for political misinformation violate free speech protections.