The last time I checked, forgery and fraud were still crimes in this country. Where the heck are the cops?
I've looked into this in some detail, and at this point my studied opininion is that no crime has been committed.
It's a stunning conclusion, isn't it.
Journalistic fraud is not illegal. That is self-policed by the so-called profession.
Forgery only plays when the forgery has legal effect. That is, if genuine, the forgery could give or take some right, power, priviledge or value - or would affect active records. Forging titles, wills, deeds, money, etc. is illegal. These forgeries are forgeries of history, and that is not illegal.
Fraud only plays when a person has given up something on fraudulent pretext. So, if CBS paid for the forgeries, CBS has a claim against the forger, and the forger may have committed a criminal offense (not sure, see, e.g., art forgery. I don't know if that is criminal).
I've also checked the narrow "forging government documents," and "misuse of a government seal." So far I have found no law or case that makes what CBS did into a crime on those counts. A "seal" is just the emblem, and can't be used on matchboks, toys, etc. The seal is for official use only. Forging government records has to have a legal effect, in order to become criminal.
I can think of one class of forging government history that would be criminal, that being birth and death records. But none of what CBS aired fits that. In fact, 3 of the 4 documents were memos to self, or for the record. Only the forged order to Bush could affect his legal rights.
The only arena these forgeries operate in is the political arena.
So, what could be brought? GWB has a defamation claim (civil law) against CBS. CBS would have a fraud claim against the forger, if CBS paid for the forgeries. ANd Viacom shareholders have a claim against CBS if CBS News' actions meet the requirements for "irreseponsible management" and the stock goes down in value BECAUSE of CBS News' actions.