Quicktake
What Is This ‘Private Prosecution’ of Boris Johnson?
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Boris Johnson, the Conservative Party front-runner to become the next U.K prime minister, has often been accused of lying, even before he was a politician. But now he faces a criminal lawsuit over his statements -- and one that comes not from the state but a 29-year-old British entrepreneur. It’s only possible because of an ancient quirk of English law that allows for a private prosecution. And it’s a tool that’s becoming increasingly fashionable.