United States v. Cooper
Circuit Court for the District of Pennsylvania
25 F. Cas. 631 (1800)
Cooper (defendant) published a paper harshly criticizing President Adams -- attacking his creation of a permanent navy, alleging the country was on the verge of a standing army, claiming Adams had damaged the nation's credit during peacetime, accusing him of improperly interfering with judicial proceedings, and condemning his decision to send an American citizen to Great Britain for trial. The United States (plaintiff) charged Cooper with violating the Sedition Act of 1798 for these publications.
Whether publishing false, scandalous, or malicious writing against the government, with intent to defame the government or incite the public against it, is a crime under the Sedition Act of 1798.