A few weeks ago, the feds raided the Los Angeles mansion of music mogul Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs.  Immediately, the corrupt media convicted Combs of an amazing array of crimes even though no charges or even the objective of the raid had been announced.

The public still doesn't know why the authorities took the action.  There have been civil suits against Combs, but they are in dispute. 

Now, I don't know from puff.  I know the "Puff the Magic Dragon" song by Peter, Paul and Mary but not the guy.  Years ago, he came into The O'Reilly Factor studio for an interview.  It was winter and he was wearing short pants.  He was surrounded by a group of menacing looking men.  We talked about the hip-hop world and he departed calmly.  Puff was not in a huff.

O'REILLY ON LATE NIGHT'S LEFT TURN

So when the FBI stormed his house, I had little to say.  That's because I have no idea.  But I was amazed at how many TV pundits and newspaper people seemed to know exactly why Puff Daddy was scrutinized.

Of course, they don't know.  But that didn't stop the bloviating and denial of due process.

And therein lies the acute problem.  The American media has destroyed the presumption of innocence.  Every accusation against powerful and wealthy people is deemed credible, and the press smear merchants run wild.  Reputations are ruined, families harmed, history altered.

And the perpetrators of this immense injustice COULD NOT CARE LESS!

That's because many media folks lack character and are too stupid to report stories accurately.  They have no standards, no sense of fairness, no ambition to be anything but foolish gossip mongers and guttersnipes.

Not all of them, but enough to ruin the country's sense of fair play.

That's the reason thousands of Americans, including Donald Trump, pay money to shut accusers up.  And that's why legions of odious lawyers traffic in allegations - threatening to wreak personal destruction for a 30 percent cut of the "settlement."

Intelligent Americans understand and fear this growing danger.  They know a legal fight against extortion will take years and cost millions in attorney fees.  And if you're famous, you are likely to lose because you have to prove "actual malice," an extremely subjective concept.

Stormy Daniels and others wanted money. Trump was running for president and had money.  I bet you can do that math without a calculator.

And while you're at it, consider adding up all the other "give me money or I'll ruin you" scenarios.

That bit of arithmetic might take a while. No reasonable doubt about it.

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