Hi All!

First, regarding legal issues. It is not up to Sibrel to decide for pressing criminal charges. True, Sibrel must press charges or the DA does not have a case, but for criminal charges it is the DA's call even if Sibrel wants to press forward. The DA's office will collect evidence (including interviewing both parties and all identifiable witnesses), and then make a determination of whether criminal charges are warranted. If so, then they will proceed to a Grand Jury and convince them whether a case is warranted.

Now a civil suit is totally up to Sibrel getting a lawyer. Of course that one would have lots of possible outcomes, including finding for the defendant, or finding for the plaintiff but not awarding any damages.

Second, let's not be hasty to judge Aldrin one way or the other. So far I've seen at least two differing accounts, but all accounts certainly show Sibrel to be an ***. However, being an *** doesn't justify getting slugged. Threatening and harassing, on the other hand, could warrant it, and some versions do show plenty of justification that Sibrel was threatening and harassing and assaulting Aldrin.

In fact, the DA as mentioned above could determine that Sibrel warrants charges of assault. They would likely be misdemeanor assault charges (I'm no attorney, so I could be wrong), and would probably depend upon Aldrin supporting them.

At this point, none of us can judge what happened because we weren't there and aren't privy to all the details. While slugging him just for saying, "Hey, swear on this bible, or you're a liar," is pretty thin, decking him for "I'm towering over you and screaming in your face and not going to leave you alone and not going to let you pass" is justified, as self defense. Remember, all it has to be for self defense is for Aldrin to have felt threatened. Sibrel did not have to intend to hurt Aldrin, just Aldrin thinking he might.

As for the level of response, Aldrin didn't pound him into the ground, or break his wrist, or give him a concussion, or keep hitting and kicking him. It was one punch that got Sibrel to back off and let Aldrin and his neice go on their way. That's a measured response if Aldrin and/or his neice felt threatened.

On another note, the incident made Jay Leno tonight. He didn't even bother to mention Sibrel by name, just described him as an idiot who thinks the moon landings were faked. And he had the video, but no sound. I suspect this will get mentioned again tomorrow.