My question involves defamation in the state of: Idaho
Suppose Jake knows that Sam is crazy and loves to beat up lawyers. Jake hates Tom, who is a lawyer. One day, the three are at the same bus stop. Tom knows notices Sam, whom he realizes hates lawyers, but thinks he is safe since Sam does not know. Jake informs Sam that Tom is a lawyer. Sam then beats up Tom.
Can Jake claim truth as a defense to any legal repercussion? Surely if someone told a crook where a home owner keeps a spare key, that would be illegal.
Where is the line drawn? If Matthew anonymously gives a speech about a polarizing political topic, which his boss at work would fire him for if he knew, and then Sally broadcasts that it was Matthew who gave the speech, is Sally legally immune? What if Matthew was a whistleblower?
If people are able to give out people's home address, name, or other info to strike fear into them and others who would speak out on controversial issues, that could cause a chilling effect against others exercising their freedom of speech. In this case, it giving the truth about someone's identity ever a tort or illegal? I read that reporters voluntarily do not publish the names of rape victims, but does that mean they could do so if they wanted to?

