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What must a person do to commit the crime of defamation?
Be aware of the truth
Knowingly make a false statement
Act in good faith
Remain silent
The correct answer is: Knowingly make a false statement
To commit the crime of defamation, a person must knowingly make a false statement. Defamation involves making untrue statements about another person that can harm their reputation. The essential element here is the intentionality behind the falsehood; it requires that the person making the statement does so with knowledge that it is not true or with reckless disregard for whether it is true or false. This understanding establishes the foundational requirement that the statement must be false, as truth is a complete defense to a defamation claim. Being aware of the truth, acting in good faith, or remaining silent do not align with the definition of defamation, as they do not involve the act of making a false statement that would injure another person's reputation.