Gaslighting: The Wikipedia definition is as good as any. “Gaslighting is a colloquialism, loosely defined as manipulating someone into questioning their own perception of reality. The expression, which derives from the title of the 1944 film Gaslight, became popular in the mid-2010s. Merriam Webster cites deception of one’s memory, perception of reality, or mental stability.”
A common phrase that gaslighters use to avoid taking responsibility or being accountable for their actions is “You’re crazy.” A variation is “The family is crazy.” Last time I checked, most cops/prosecutors are not psychologists or psychiatrists. When you hear this from law enforcement about a victim or a victim’s family, you are hearing bullshit. Besides, someone can be crazy and they can still be right.
Institutional gaslighting: When gaslighting occurs at an organizational level. For example, a prosecutor could hide some information or lie about particular details and then peg anyone who asks questions or makes statements about this as being “crazy” or a “conspiracy theorist.”
Vindictiveness: A malevolent desire for revenge. Vocabulary.com gives this example and I add a few additions–If someone steps on your toe (asks questions about a son’s cold case murder) and you put on boots to stomp back (convening a fake grand jury investigation and bringing the dead boy’s father before a judge, falsely accusing him of a felony–leaking grand jury information–to shut him up), you are filled with vindictiveness. See also, Vindictive Prosecution.
Lying liars: So many in the OCCK case.
Lying by omission: Lying by omission is the act of intentionally withholding relevant information to mislead others.
Lying by commission: The act of explicitly stating something that is false.
Bonus words–
Coward: The opposite of courage. “Cowardice” indicates a failure of character in the face of a challenge.
Conflict of interest: occurs when a person’s personal interests–family, friendships, financial, or social factors–could compromise their judgment, decisions or actions in the workplace. A perceived conflict of interest is when it might appear to others that your private interests could impact your performance of official duties.
Corruption: Again, from Wikipedia: “Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense which is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one’s personal gain.”
I’ll start the next post with a lying liar from way back when. Gerald S. Richards, pedophile and creator and purveyor of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), known back in the day as “child pornography.” Friend of and assistant to Francis (Frank) Shelden, Grosse Pointe scion and the backbone behind the monstrous “boys nature camp” on N. Fox Island, which was classified by the State of Michigan as a charitable trust instead of the original Pedophile Island. It turns out Frank Shelden’s entire life was a lie, but Gerald Richards’ words are on the record so it is much easier to parse.