"Just as soon as YOU and everyone else on this forum does the same with regard to Mike Croley".

Look, you sad little past-his-sell-by-date attention-seeking little creep, you can't put up a defence against slander or libel by making it conditional upon actions by third parties.

Put up or shut up, its Jim you've publicly accused of a crime or used words that might be interpreted that way by others which has the same legal effect, so its up to you. He did say immediately for an extremely good legal reason.