Publishing Information about Politicians and Public Figures
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Question
Hello, does publishing information about public figures fall under the category of lashon hara (slander)? For example, if I inform the residents of Jerusalem that the mayor bought his wife jewelry with public funds (the story is fictional), is this considered lashon hara, or do the city's residents have the right to know if their funds are being misused?
Answer
Hello,
There is no permission.
The permission of 'the public's right to know' is not valid in Halacha.
There are rules that allow telling lashon hara, for example, approaching the person himself and reproving him personally. Or approaching someone who can influence him to act according to the law.
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