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The Journalist and the Troll: This Man Spent Two

Years Trying to Destroy Me Online
ByDuneLawrence
(http://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AF3Ns80UzV0/dunelawrence)|March16,2016
PhotographbyChristaanFelber
From
(http://www.bloomberg.com/businessweek)

I saw the photo first, me in a bloody wash of red

withRACISTpulsingovermyface.Acoupleof
clicksbroughtmetothis:
InthedarkestshadowofBloombergsglossyoce
buildinginManhattan,youmayndawomanby
thenameofDuneLawrenceajournalistwhohas
builtacareeronwritingsalaciousarticlesabout
China.
ThatwasmyintroductiontoTheBlot,awebsiteI
hopeyouveneverheardof.Thearticlewentonand
on:IdbeenkickedoutofChinaforpoorjob
performanceandekedoutalivingonminimum
wage.Myappearancewasravagedbyyearsof
consuminghormone-packedfriedchickenand
stressingovermoney.Now,Idfoundawaytosave
mysinkingcareerbywritingnegativearticlesabout
Chinaandtakingkickbacksfromshortsellers.Ina
cinematicscenesetatKentuckyFriedChicken,this
Internetversionofmelaidoutastrategy:Bashing
theChinesecouldbeaprotablenicheforme,
Lawrencesaidtoasourcewhilebitingoajuicy
chickenlegquarteratKFC.TheChinesedontvote,
theChinesedontsuepeople,theyjustsitthere
takingthes---.Howmuchbettercanitget?Iam
makingalivingoutofit!
Itwasdicultformetokeepreading.Inadditionto
allthelies,thestorywaslacedwithcreepysexual
imagery:Idhadmypantiesrippedoandwas
likeadogwagginghertailtryingtoattracta

matingpartner.Ifeltoverwhelmed;itwasasif
somethingheavywerepressingintomyforehead.I
wantedtoghtback,andIalsowantedtohide.I
haventbeenabletodoeither.
Thestory,publishedonJan.8,2014,hadthebyline
JohnSterling.Thesitesotherarticleswereanodd
mixofcelebritygossip,entertainmentnews,and
stabsatreportingonserioustopicssuchasdrug
marketing.Itwasntexactlyhighjournalism,butit
lookedprofessional,notlikesomeamateurblog.
Googleseemedtothinksoaswell,becausethestory
instantlywenttothetopoftheresultswhenI
searchedmyname.
InSeptember2015theFBIarrestedthemanbehind
TheBlot,oneBenjaminWey.Notforsmearingmeor
theotherpeopleheimaginedwerehisenemies.
Hesprimarilyanancier,andhewaschargedwith
securitiesfraudandothernancialcrimes
involvingChinesecompanieshehelpedtoliston
U.S.stockmarkets.TheU.S.DepartmentofJustice
allegesWeypocketedtensofmillionsofdollarsin
illicitprotsthathefunneledthroughassociates
overseasandbackintoaccountsintheU.S.Wey
deniesthecharges.AtrialhasbeensetforMarch
2017.
Meanwhile,TheBlotsliesaboutmestillpopup
online.Thesameistrueforayoungwomanwho
wonan$18millionjudgmentagainstWeyandhis
companiesforsexualharassmentanddefamation,a
journalistwhowroteabouther,aretiredNasdaq

ocial,andaGeorgetownUniversitylawprofessor.
AsWey,44,awaitstrial,heregularlypostsBlot
articlescallingallofus,andothers,frauds,racists,
andextortionists.Hesfoundawaytoexactrevenge
withfewconsequences,andhesmilkingit.

I met Wey in
September2010,
whenhesailedinto
theBloombergoces
foraninterview.He
woreasuit,andhis
blackhairwasshort
andslick.He
maintainedastudied
smugness,asifhis
publicisthadntemailedmecoldto
pitchthevisit.Iwasa

Wheneveranew
imageofme
cameonline,a
Blotarticle
followed,with
insultsstamped
overtheimage:
FRAUD,DUMB,
RACIST,
INCOMPETENT

reporterwhod
recentlylivedin
China;Weywanted
somepositivepress
forhisbusinesshelpingcompaniesthereraise
moneyhere.
Everythingabouthimseemedrehearsed,fromhis
posturechindown,ngerstentedtothewayhe
usedmynameinalmosteverysentence.Chinas
economywasgrowingatroughly10percentayear,
andWeyportrayedthisasasortofpersonal

validation.Thephilosophyisverysimple,hesaid.
IfyoubelieveChinaisgoingtocontinuetogrowas
ithas,whosgoingtobridgethegapbetweenthe
twocountries?Theanswer,obviously,was
BenjaminWey.
Still,
the
life
story
Wey

Wey outside the Manhattan courthouse, where he was found liable for
sexual harassment and defamation. The $ 8 million judgment remains
unpaid.
Photographer:NatanDvir/Polaris

sketchedformewasfascinating.Hesaidhed
arrivedintheU.S.fromChinain1992with$62in
hispocket,thenbootstrappedhiswaytoWallStreet
riches.Afewyearsafterourmeeting,Weywould
tellalongerversionofthestoryinadocumenthe
claimedwasabusinessschoolcasestudy.Hisfather
diedwhenhewas10,thestorywent,leavinghis
mothertoraisehimaloneon$120amonthinthe
northernChinesecityofTianjin.Weyconsidered
Englishthekeytohisfuture.Heroseat5every
morningtostudy,thenbiked90minutestoschool,
allthewhilerecitingEnglishphrases.Onedayit
paido:Hestruckupaconversationwithaforeign
coupleonabus.TheyhailedfromTexasaword
thathadanalmostmysticalringtohim.This
chancemeetingledhimtocollegeatOklahoma
BaptistUniversity.
Successfollowedsuccess.First,hefoundedandran
acampuscateringcompanywithagrossprot
marginofsome95percent.Next,whilestillat
school,hebrokeredshipmentsofsilkboxers,
Braziliansugar,andRussianfertilizer.After
graduating,hegothimselfhiredasaChinaadviser
atAshtonTechnologyGroup.Itshardtoknowwhat
tobelieveinWeyscasestudy,buthedidworkat
Ashton.
Inthelate1990sheopenedaconsultingbusiness
withpartnersinBeijing,andin2003hefounded
NewYorkGlobalGroup(NYGG).Thatsthebusiness
WeywaspromotingwhenImethim.NYGGadvised
mostlysmallandmidsizeprivateChinese

companieslookingtolistintheU.S.,Weytoldme.
Heemphasizedthatheturnedaway99percentof
potentialclients.Staaccountants,hesaid,
performedasmuchas11monthsofduediligence,
andthen,forcompaniesdeemedworthy,NYGG
engineeredmergerswithshellscompaniesthat
areallbutdefunctbutstillpubliclylisted.Sucha
transaction,calledareversemerger,transformed
theChineseentityintoaU.S.publiccompany
overnight.HundredsofChinesecompanieshad
takenthisrouteandso,Weypointedout,had
BerkshireHathawayandTexasInstruments.
WeywassayingonethingaboutChinesereversemergercompanies,butthemarketwassaying
another.Shortsellerswereraisingdoubtsaboutthe
accountingatmanyofthesecompanies,andshares
insomewerefalling.Weywasanassertivedefender
ofthecompaniesandaccusedtheshortsofillegal
marketmanipulation.IdreaduponWeyandknew
hedhadhisownregulatoryissues:Thestate
securitiesregulatorinOklahomahadaccusedhim
offailingtotellclientsabouthisconsulting
relationshipswithcompanieswhoseshareshewas
touting.Weywascensuredandagreedtoabanfrom
thesecuritiesindustryinthestate,without
admittingordenyingtheallegations.
ImetwithWeyagaininNovember2010,andthe
nextJanuaryIwroteastoryforBloomberg
BusinessweekaboutshortsellersandChinese
reversemergers.ItmentionedWeyandNYGG.In

January2012theFBIsearchedNYGGsoce.Wey
wouldntcommentatthetime,andtheFBIdidnt
giveanydetails.
Afterthat,IheardonlyoccasionalnewsofWey.A
friendwhodreadmystoriesonreversemergers
mentionedmeetinghim.InSeptember2013the
friendshowedmeagroupe-mailWeyhadsent
sayinghewasanalumnusofColumbiaBusiness
Schoolandtoutingthecasestudyabouthimself.
Columbiahadpublishedit,Weywrote,andwas
planningtouseitinthetrainingofgloballeaders
foryearstocome.Theattacheddocument,titled
BenjaminWey:GlobalEntrepreneur,appearedto
beonletterheadfromColumbiasCaseWorksseries
andlistedaColumbiaBusinessSchoolprofessor
andWeyhimselfastheco-authors.Thiswasthe
storythatincludedsuchdetailsasthe90-minute
bikeridetoschoolandthenicecouplefromTexas.
ThestudyisnotaColumbiapublication,according
toChristopherCashman,aspokesmanforthe
businessschool.Thedocumentyouhaveisnota
casestudyandwasnotpublishedbyColumbia
BusinessSchool,Cashmanwroteinane-mail.In
fact,noresearchorcasestudyaboutMr.Weyhas
everbeenpublishedbyColumbiaBusinessSchool.
TheprofessorcreditedasWeysco-authordeclined
tocomment.
ThedocumentopenswithWeywavinggoodbyeto
hisColumbiaclassmatesontheirlastdaytogether.
Theyreheadedtowardthesubway,whileWeyhops

inhisMaseratitogetbacktoWallStreet.Therestof
thenarrativemostlystickstoWeyspersonal
triumphs;itdoestouchontheOklahomatrouble,
describingitaspoliticallymotivatedandsaying
Weyacceptedthecensurebecausehewasnolonger
doingbusinessinthestate.Still,thestorynotes,
newsofthecensuregavehisenemiesfodder.The
lesson,WeyquotesWeyassaying,isthat
perceptionmattersmorethanfactsorreality.

Howdy!NiHao!
Hello!You
knowmewellso
letsgettothe
point.
Investigative
reportersare
evaluating
publishingnew
storiesabout
you

By the time Wey

distributedhiscase
study,Iwasworking
onastoryabouta
formerclientofhis:
AgFeedIndustries,a
Chineseanimal-feed
companyembroiled
inbankruptcy,a
shareholderlawsuit,
andaU.S.Securities
andExchange
Commission
investigation.Wey
didntrespondtomy

callsore-mails.Ireconstructedsomeofhis
involvementfromInternetsearchesandturnedup
apressreleasefromNYGGsayingithadhelped
AgFeedraise$86millionintheU.S.Mystorycame
outinDecember.Lessthanthreemonthslater,the
SECsuedAgFeedanditsChineseexecutivesfor

allegedlyfabricatingrevenuefrom2008to2011.
Thecompanysettledwithoutadmittingliability
andagreedtoreturn$18millioninillicitprots.
Weye-mailedmeonNewYearsDay2014.Hesaid
hewasseekingcommentforaseriesofinvestigative
articlesaboutshortsellersandfraud,andhehada
listofquestionsforme.Heresasample.(All
correspondencefromWeyinthisstoryispresented
ashesentit,uncorrected.)
Ifyouhavenobusinessbackgroundandneither
haveyouobtainedanyeducationintheeldof
accountingofbusiness,howcouldyouhavederived
conclusionsonyourowninvolvingcomplexglobal
businessmattersmentionedinyourvarious
articles?
Weweretoldyouwereemotionallyscarredwhile
livinginChinaandyouareraciallybiasedagainst
theChinesepeople.Isittrue?
Sourcestoldusthatyouhaveanactivebusiness
activitiesoutsideyourBloombergemployment.
Whatarethosebusinessactivities?Howareyou
abletosupportyourlifestyle?Whatcompensation
haveyoureceivedfromstockshortsellers,hedge
funds,andothertabloidwriters?
Heendedwith:Thisisthetimeforyoutocomeout
clean,Dune.

Ididntrespond.Hefolloweduptwodayslaterwith
additionalprompts,includingSourcestoldusyou
havegainedalotofweightduetostress.
WeyhadalreadystartedtweetingthatIwas
implicatedinmassivefrauds.WhenBloombergs
lawyerssenthimalettertellinghimtotakedown
thetweetsandstopdefamingme,heredo
anotherlonge-mail.Youareatabloidwriter,a
sensationalwoman,atotalloserwithabsolutelyno
senseofmorality,readthemessage,which
nonethelesswentontosaythatthisisjustthe
beginningofendlesseortstoexpressouropinions
forever,andcontinuesthedebatesofour
dierencesincivility.
Iknewsomethingwascoming,soIkeptGoogling
mynameandWeysnametoseewhatitwouldbe.
ThatshowIdiscoveredmystarturnonTheBlot.
Iwasrattledfordays.IcouldntfocusonastoryI
wasreportingaboutasithappensonlineprivacy
andanonymousbrowsing.Still,somethingsstruck
measabsurdlyfunny.Weytriedtodrumuptrac
tothestorywithatweetclaimingIwasimplicated
inanewBernieMadofraud.Hise-mails,which
keptcoming,referredtotwitsinsteadoftweets
andtoBloombergsoutsidelawrm,WillkieFarr,as
WilkieFart.
Weysnamewasntonthestory,buthewasnt
tryingtoohardtocoverhistracks.Thewebsites
termsofuseidentiedtheblot.comaspartofFNL

Media,whichacopyrightformplacedatthesame
oceaddressandoorasNYGG.
AsIlookedintohowtogetWeysvilematerialo
theInternet,IsawthatFNLsbusinessregistration
listedHolland&Knight,arespectablelawrm,and
armpartner,NealBeaton.Thatgavemesome
hopemaybesomeonetherewouldbewillingto
talksenseintoWey.Ireachedoutthrough
Bloombergslawyers.Themessagecameback
sorry,canthelp.(Holland&Knightsays,througha
spokesperson,OurinvolvementwithFNLMedia
wasonlyinrelationtotheformationofthe
companyin2013.)
IhadnobetterluckwiththecompaniesWeyusedto
spreadBlotposts.ThesitehadaFacebookpage,
andBloombergslegalteamtriedtogetFacebookto
removereferencestome.Noresponse.(The
RACISTphotowasinTheBlotsphotostream
whenIcheckedasIwaswritingthisstory.I
reporteditandgotanautomatedresponsesaying
Facebookwouldremoveanythingthatdoesnt
followtheFacebookStatementofRightsand
Responsibilities.Itsstillthere.)WhenI
complainedtoTwitterthatWeysaccountwas
abusive,IgotaresponsefromTwitterTrust&
Safety,tellingmeWeywasntviolatingTwitters
rulesandtoblockhistweetssoIcouldntseethem.
IsentinmoreexamplesofWeystweets,and
Twittersuspendedhisaccount.Hewasbackinless

thanthreeweeks.SomeoneopenedaTwitter
accountimpersonatingme.Theonlyfollowerwas
BenjaminWey.Twitterdidblockthatone.
Myhusbandwasenragedandimpatient:Couldnt
wedosomething?Howcouldthisguybeallowedto
getawaywiththis?Mymotherworriedthiswasall
justapreludetosomethingworseviolence,
physicalharassment.IsoothedthemthebestI
could,andIkeptlookingforhelp.
FriendsandcolleaguestoldmeappealingtoGoogle
wasprettymuchhopeless,andIfoundthattobe
true.Icouldntgureouthowtoreportthestories
asdefamatory,althoughtherewasareport
imagesoptionthatIvebeenusingtonoavailfor
twoyears.Later,Googleforwardedmeitsocial
policy.IntheU.S.,thecompanyremovessearch
resultsfromitsindexonlyinveryspecic
situationsinvolvingimagesofchildabuse,
copyrightinfringement,orexposureofsensitive
informationsuchasSocialSecuritynumbers.
Googlewillalsorespondtoacourtorderidentifying
pagesorcontentasdefamatory.
Ididntsuefordefamation.Italkedtopeopleabout
it,andallofthemtoldmethesamething:Itwould
belong,invasive,andhorrible,andWeywould
likelyusetheopportunitytofurtherattackmy
privacyandreputation.

Weykeptathistrolling,withatleastfourmore
storiesdevotedtome,plusreferencesinposts
abouthisothertargets.Wheneveranewimageof
mecameonline,aBlotarticlefollowed,withthe
sameinsultsstampedovertheimage:FRAUD,
DUMB,RACIST,INCOMPETENT.
Therewererealconsequences.MyhusbandandI
wereturneddownforhomeownersinsurance;the
underwritertoldmyhusbandIwashigh-prole.I
tradedcardswithanotherjournalistatanevent,
andthenextdayhee-mailedtoaskwhattheheck
Iddonetomakeanyonesoangryatme.IfeltasifI
hadadirtylittlesecret.Idforget,andthen
momentslikethatwouldupsetmeagain.Notmany
peoplebotheredtoaskformysideofthestory.
Maybethatwasbecausenotalotofpeoplesawthe
Blotstoriestheentiresitegotonly50,000viewsa
month.ButIimaginedpeopleIcontactedforwork,
especiallynativeChinese,comingupontheBlot
posts.Howmanyofthemwouldreturnmycallsor
e-mails?
Iwasnttherstpersonaccusedofracismon
TheBlot.Beforeme,therewasMichaelEmen,a
Nasdaqocial.In2011,NasdaqdelistedaWey
clientcalledCleanTechInnovations.(Thedecision
wasoverturnedbytheSECinJuly2013afterthe
companyappealed.)Apiecelabeledopinion
appearedonTheBlotfocusingonEmensrole,
allegingabuseofhispowers,discrimination,and

racialproling.MichaelEmenRevealsRacismat
NasdaqisstillatthetopofaGooglesearchonhis
name.
Similarinvestigations,astheyweretagged,began
toappearregularlyonTheBlot.Theattacks
reectedWeysobsessionwithwhathesawasthe
unfairtreatmentofChinesecompaniesbytheU.S.
mediaandregulators.TheBlotwentafterRoddy
Boyd,afreelancereporterwhoddoggedlyanalyzed
accountingirregularitiesatU.S.-listedChinese
companies;JonCarnes,ashortseller;Francine
McKenna,whowroteaboutAgFeedonher
accounting-focusedblog;andapairofBarrons
reporterswhodcoveredreverse-mergercompanies
andWeysbusiness.Theaccompanyinggraphics
grewcoarserandcoarser,includingphotosoftoilet
bowlsfulloffeces.

TheBlot found a new target in July 2014, a

SwedishwomannamedHannaBouveng.Shemet
WeyatapartyintheHamptonsin2013.Notlong
after,heoeredherajobatNYGG,avisa,anda
chancetostayinNewYork.Sheaccepted.Alawsuit
shelaterledallegedthatWey,whowasmarried
withchildrenandalmost20yearshersenior,
pursuedherrelentlessly,buyinghertightclothes
thatheaskedhertowearattheoceandforcing
hertosharearoomwithhimonbusinesstrips.

Eventually,thesuitsaid,shesleptwithhim,and
whenshedeclinedtokeepdoingso,heredher.
Bouvengsought$850millionindamages.
TheBlotspewedoutinammatoryarticlesandlurid
illustrationsaboutWeyslatestenemies:Bouveng,
herlawyers,herfriends,evenaNewYorkDaily
Newsreporterwhowroteabriefitemaboutthe
lawsuit.Justasampleoftheheadlines:
Op-Ed:HannaBouveng,CocaineUserCaughtwith
CocaineandGunCriminal,SwedishShame
BankFraudDoomsMorelliAltersRatnerLaw
Firm,Bankruptcy,LawsuitCharges,FBI
Investigates
BarbaraRoss,RacistNYDailyNewsWriter
FabricatedJudgesOrder,PrejudicedJournalist
BenjaminWey
Bouvengslawyerstriedtopersuadethejudgeinthe
casetostopWeyfromcontinuingtopublish
defamatoryarticles,assertingthattheyamounted
toretaliationandwitnessintimidation.Weys
lawyersarguedthatthiswouldinfringeonWeys
righttofreespeech.Thejudgedidntruleonthis
aspectofthecaseuntilafterthetrialwasover,when
hesaidthemoneyjudgmentmadeitamootpoint.
Manyofthestoriesremainonline,updatedwith
newmaterial.

The
trial

Bouveng is pleased that the U.S. government is pursuing a criminal

case against Wey, says her lawyer. He will ultimately get what he
deserves.
Photographer:JohnMarshallMantel/ZumaPress

becametabloidfodderasBouvengtestiedabout
hersexualencounterswithWey.(Fromher
testimony:Q.Didyoukisshim?A.No.Q.Didyou
hughim?A.No.Q.Didyoureciprocateinanyway?
A.No.Q.Howlongdiditlast?A.Afewminutes.)
ForBlotwatcherslikeme,italsorevealedWeys
methods.Hereallyhadestablishedawebsite,hired
writers,andpublishedarticlesjusttohavea
platformforhisattacks.Thesitesformereditor-in-

chieftestiedthatallWeyreallycaredaboutwere
thepiecesonhisenemiesandthathetackedon
commentsunderfakenamestopushthearticles
furtherupinsearchresults.
AjuryawardedBouveng$18millionlastJune.She
hasyettoreceiveanymoney,accordingtooneof
herlawyers,DavidRatner.Weystweetsafterthe
verdictinBouvengslawsuitspundefeatinto
victory:#GRATIFIED#nancier@WeyBenjamin
DEFEATS#extortion#hannabouvengFALSEsexual
assault,retaliationclaims,VICTORY.
RatnersentmeacommentfromBouveng,saying
sheispleasedthattheU.S.governmentispursuing
acriminalcaseagainstWey.Hewillultimatelyget
whathedeserves.

On the day of his arrest in September 2015, Wey

appearedinfederalcourtinManhattantohearthe
charges:securitiesandwirefraud,conspiracyto
commitsecuritiesfraudandwirefraud,failureto
discloseownershipinexcessof5percentof
companiesstock,andmoneylaundering.Wey
manipulatedChinesecompaniesandinvestors,
accordingtotheJusticeDepartment,takinghidden
stakesthroughfamilymembersandfront
companies,thenmanipulatingtradingintheshares
tobenethimselfandhisfamily.Theindictment
outlineshowheallegedlytookacutofalmostevery
transactionasheshepherdedcompaniessuchas

DeerConsumerProductsandCleanTechtoU.S.
listings.Heownedhiddenstakesintheshell
companiesusedforreversemergers,whichthen
becamesharesofthenewentities.Hehidthese
stakesinoshoreentities,throughwhichhe
parceledoutstakestofriendsandfamilytoboost
thenumberofshareholderstothethreshold
requiredforaNasdaqlisting.Healsousedthese
oshoreentitiestoconductfraudulenttrading,at
timesarticiallyinatingsharepricesandthen
sellingtogeneratemillionsinprots.Hecaused
stockandprotstobetransferredoverseasthrough
accountsinSwitzerlandandHongKong.(Weys
Geneva-basedbanker,SerefDoganErbek,wasalso
charged.Heisatlarge.)Themoneyreturnedtothe
U.S.andeventuallytoWey,often,theindictment
says,asnontaxablegiftstoWeyswife,Michaela.
OnSept.15,Weypleadednotguiltytoallcharges.
Hesalsoadefendant,alongwithhiswifeand
severalotherpeopleassociatedwithNYGG,ina
civilsuitledbytheSECatthesametimeasthe
criminalcomplaint.Weyandhiswifehaventleda
responseintheSECcaseandareseekingtohaveit
stayeduntilthecriminalcaseagainstWeyis
resolved.
Weyisalsobattlinglawsuitsstemmingfrom
TheBlot.AGeorgetownlawprofessornamedChris
BrummersuedhiminApril2015.Brummerhadthe
poorlucktobeanarbitratorinaFinancialIndustry
RegulatoryAuthority(Finra)disciplinaryaction
againsttwobrokerswhosoldsharesofDeer

ConsumerProductswithoutdisclosingto
customersthattheywerepaidconsultantsforthe
company.DeerwasaclientofWeys.Finrabarred
thetwobrokersfromworkinginthesecurities
industry,andBrummerwasonapanelthatupheld
thedecisionin2014.StoriesonTheBlotappeared
promptly,pilloryingBrummerasafraud,calling
himanUncleTom(Brummerisblack),and
accusinghimofbeinginvolvedinpump-and-dump
stockschemes.
WeyrespondedtoBrummerslawsuitwithamotion
todismiss.ItcontendsthatWeydidntwritethe
postsandthatthesuitisatransparentattemptto
chillfreespeech,becausenoreasonablereader
wouldinterpretthearticlesasfact,ratherthan
opinion.Themotionnotesthatitisundisputed
thatthePostsareavailableonlyonasensationalist
internetblog.Preposterousthoughthismight
sound,especiallygivenWeysregulardeclarations
thatheisaninvestigativejournalist,itappearstobe
designedtocloakWeyandTheBlotinthemantleof
theFirstAmendmentandprotectedfreespeech.
Brummerwouldnttalktome,butoneofhis
lawyers,WhitneyGibson,agreedtodiscuss
defamationintheonlineeraingeneralterms.
Internetcompanies,hetoldme,areprotected
underaclauseintheCommunicationsDecencyAct
thatsaysnoprovideroruserofaninteractive
computerservice,suchasawebsite,ahosting
company,orasearchengineprovider,canbeheld
liableforthird-partycontent.Thatallows

companiestoignoretheheadacheofarbitrating
rightfromwrongandfactfromctiononline,for
themostpart.ItalsoleavesBrummer,andallofus,
vulnerabletothelikesofWey,whodisguisedmany
ofhisattacksasstoriessubmittedbyanonymous
readers.DecadesintotheInternetAge,theresno
sureremethodtogetdefamatorymaterialtaken
downifthepersonresponsibleforitisreadytoput
upaght.
Earlierthismonth,Brummerslawsuitcleareda
majorhurdle:ThejudgeruledagainstWeysmotion
todismissandspeciedthatWeyhadntshownthe
Blotarticlesshouldbeprotectedunderthe
CommunicationsDecencyAct.Itsavictory,though
Brummerstillhastoprevailintheoverallcase
andinthemeantime,theBlotarticlesstayup.
AlmosteveryoneIcontactedforthisstory,
includingEmen,Brummer,andotherswhodbeen
attackedonTheBlot,chosenottocomment,andI
understandthatdecision.Whatstheupside?I
knowwhatthedownsideis:moreattacks.Ittook
mealongtimetodecidetowriteaboutmyown
experience,becauseIjustwantedtoavoidanymore
interactionwithWey.ButIdidhavetogivehima
chancetocommentforthisstory,particularlyon
theoriginoftheColumbiacasestudy.Ie-mailed
thelawyersrepresentinghiminhisvariouslegal
battles,andinlessthanthreehours,Igota1,600wordresponsefromWey.Thisisjustapiece:

Howdy!NiHao!Hello!IamBenjaminWeyyour
oldfriend.Youknowmewellsoletsgettothe
point.Iamanindependentinvestigativereporter
andIlikeTheBlotMagazine(www.theblot.com)
VoicefortheVoiceless,millionsofreadersayear.
Investigativereportersareevaluatingpublishing
newstoriesaboutyou,yourpeculiarmoney
entanglementswithillegalstockshortsellers
(RoddyBoyd,JonCarnesetc)astheirbribed
mouthpiece,yourallegedextramaritalaairswitha
mancallinghimselfniubiacattlesd---in
ChineseonyourownTwitterpage,aswellasyour
racistattitudetowardstheChinesepeople.Because
youjustreachedouttomeagainaftertwoyearsof
peace,youjustdidyourselfafavorbyrevivingour
interestinyou....
Youmentionedanon-publishedColumbia
BusinessSchoolresearchpaper.Irecallyouand
yoursexpartnerRoddyBoydcollectivelypublished
atabloidhitpieceonthismatterin2013intheNY
Post.YousaidtheColumbiapaperwasnever
published.Thenhowdidyougetacopy?Howdid
yougetholdofadraftColumbiaUniversityinternal
document?Whenandhowdidyouhackinto
Columbiascomputers?Howdidyousteal
Columbiasdocuments?Whoelsewasinvolvedin
yourtheft?Comecleanpleasesoourreaderscan
judge.Howlonghaveyoubeenstealingdocuments
fromyouremployer?Youknow,theftisapattern....

Wehave18morequestionsforyoutoanswer.Each
answercanbeaseparate,featuredarticle.Dune,to
saveyoutime,letsstartwiththeabovelist.Okay?
Ourdealineforyouranswersis5pm,Feb24,2016.
Asitissaid,athiefremainssilent.Ifyoudonot
respond,wewillreporttoourreaderssuch....
DonaldTrumpsaidthemainstreammediaisfull
ofdishonestpeople.IhavetosayIagreewithhim.
Youareoneofthoseduckingsfeelinglikesome
whiteswan.Thereisnoswanlakeinmylifeto
dancearound,okay?Iknowyourtricksandhow
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morethanyoudo....
IwrotethisstorybecauseIhaveaplatformtoght
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globalmagazine,lethimintimidateme?Itsmyjob
towriteaboutWey.Still,Imnotlookingforwardto
whatscomingnext.

Editor: Daniel Ferrara

Web design: Tracy Ma, Steph Davidson and Toph Tucker

Feb 25, 2016

Mar 10, 2016

Heres How Electric Cars Will Cause the Next

Oil Crisis
(http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-evoil-crisis/)

The Incredible Rise and Final Hours of Fracking

King Aubrey McClendon
(http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016aubrey-mcclendon)

Feb 23, 2016

Feb 25, 2016

The South China Tiger Is Functionally Extinct.

This Banker Has 19 of Them
(http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016stuart-bray-south-china-tigers/)

Expedia Thinks It Can Help You Find the Dream

Vacation You Didnt Know You Wanted
(http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/201602-25/expedia-thinks-it-can-help-you-find-the-

Mar 03, 2016

Feb 04, 2016

Valeants Boss Is Back: Can the CEO Save the

Day, Again?
(http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/201603-03/valeant-s-boss-is-back-can-the-ceo-

The Feel-Good Female Solidarity Machine

(http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016feel-good-female-solidarity-machine/)