The answers to those 2 questions would satisfy this forever lasting concern of the deceived felt public by a New York Times Best Selling author.

John Gray received his degree in 1982 from Columbia Pacific University. The school closed their doors in 2001. Prior to that date, according to the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education:

“CPU degrees awarded before June 25, 1997 are legally valid. Your degree, and any credential or license you received by virtue of the degree, should not be affected. CPU had legal approval to operate until June 25, 1997, and the degrees it issued before June 25, 1997 are legal.”

This was taken from http://www.bppve.ca.gov/press_releases/cpuweb_dec2000.htm

California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education
400 R Street, Suite 5000
Sacramento, CA 95814-6200

At the time John Gray graduated and received his degree, CPU was a highly respected school in its field.

No need to apologize, just reposition your original post.

What the fake Doc objects to, on your blog, is the word (and link) fraud

That word, verbatim, is contained in the linked blog document.

So merely issue a correction, to the effect that he is reported to be a fraud

Now you are stating a fact, and therefore not libeling the fraudster, technically.

I would, if I were you, blow this up again and again – report the fact of the reported characterization as a fraud – then lay out all the facts, and exhort your readers to decide, based on the facts, whether the guy, in their own, privileged opinions, is a fraud, or should be commended as a legitimate Ph.D and held in the adoring light he heretofore enjoyed.

On that basis, there is no defamation, and no issue of liability on your part, but you will be continuing your very worthwhile campaign to expose and defrock the fraudster.

If a school doesn’t use the word accredited, it usually means they are not…i.e. a second-rate school, often a degree mill.

Now to be honest, doctorates outside the hard sciences really don’t mean much any more no matter what institution issues them. What should more embarrassing for Gray is all those years he spent as the Maharishi’s gofer.

As to Columbia Pacific University, the article discussing its shutdown plus a phone call to the appropriate State department should clarify whether what was published is accurate or not. In any event, John Gray really does not want the negative publicity that a suit against a blogger could bring, especially since smoke almost always leads to fire in the case of someone who has gone to two, not just one, diploma mills.