I’m really trying to de-fetishize lawsuits for people on this forum. Accusation of a serious crime is “slander per se.” it’s a dead bang winner. They immmediately retracted. One has entitlement to damages as a matter of law. Stereotypically in a case like this you get nominal damages of $1. Lawsuits aren’t magic bullets. One shouldn’t engage in them unless there’s something to be gained
Political points are to be gained.
This is the game that the Left plays.