That statute is limited to Immigration and Nationality.
Plus, the government is allowed to lie to the public, never a crime.
Another thing … it is impossible to defame an anonymous person. A technical point, slander refers to spoken words, libel refers to written material, defamation covers both.
Understood. The statute that was referred isn't applicable to that sort of forgery. The statute is about forged ID or nationality documents, like the birth cert Obama showed.
See Dan Rather and the forged Texas ANG case. The usual press buffoonery, but not criminal.
Obviously can't forge money, stamps, financial instruments.
18 USC 506 criminalizes forging government agency seals. 18 USC 505 similar but referring to courts.
18 USC 495 criminalizes forgeries used to defraud the government.
I don't see the FBI caring if a forged report goes out under its name and the only effect is to mislead the public. If the FBI did care, the most it would do is issue a press release. FBI hasn't complained about this report.
Here is a fake that the FBI cared about: https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/pressrel/press-releases/internet-alert-scammers-sending-fake-fbi-e-mails-seeking-personal-information
Internet fraud is the underlying offense, facilitated by pretending to be from the FBI. Same shit happens using IRS, send money or we'll take your dog.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killian_documents_controversy
LOL. AOC of the opposite stripe. Fitting addition to our Clown Congress.