I think your buddy sent in his beliefs with all kinds of lies as facts and JH ran with it, he will claim he relied on a fellow journalist and walk away leaving someone not worth suing holding the bag. Just think of how many more people already know who JH is and this story is only half over. As Doctor Phil McGraw says "How is that working for you", JH says "working just fine for me!". Even bad publicity is better than no publicity.
JMHO
DOS
Just a guy with a trinket shop who laughs all the way to the bank every day.