Oswald in the doorway: the blog of the Oswald Innocence Campaign, by Ralph Cinque

As strange as it is that Kanye West should become a fan of Hitler, there's something that I find even more strange: and that is the filing of a $250 million lawsuit against him for saying that he believes that George Floyd died of fentanyl poisoining. 

It's strange because in the United States, you can't defame the dead. Once a person dies, if you say something that defames them, their kids  or their estate can't sue you. So, I don't understand the basis of how he could be sued for saying it. 

But, in addition, the death of George Floyd was a public event. It was covered widely in the media, and it was discussed widely. So, why shouldn't Kanye West be able to say what he thinks about it? 

But then, the icing on the cake is that the involvement of fentanyl in the case is undisputed. This is what the famed Michael Baden said:

Medical examiner: George Floyd had 'fatal level of fentanyl' in his system, but is 'not saying this killed him'

Dr. Baden clarified that even though it was a potentially fatal dose, that people can build up a tolerance to it, if they take it a lot. So, it wasn't necessarily fatal, but for many people, it would be fatal. But, isn't that splitting hairs? In today's political and legal climate, I have to wonder if that clarification was made on the advice of his lawyers. But, the point is that since a high does of fentanyl in Floyd's system was undoubtedly a factor in the case, the idea that Kanye's statement should put him in legal and financial jeopardy is bizarre and freaky. 

What about the long tradition of freedom of speech that we have in this country? It's the first amendment of the Bill of Rights. 

And the truth is that, if it ever went to trial, I suspect that Kanye's lawyers would produce a medical doctor who would testify that he or she believes that Fentanyl poisoning was a causal factor in Floyd's death. And I have no doubt that they could find one. So, if it were going to come down to whose medical opinion is sacrosanct, the answer is: nobody's. And that means that even Kanye should be allowed to express his opinion. 

So, this is just one more way that things are going to Hell in America.