smear

Lawrence police smear claims: Mark Ellison QC to lead review

Reports the police wanted to smear the family of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence are to be investigated by a senior barrister, the BBC understands.

Mark Ellison QC is already looking into allegations of police corruption in the initial investigation of the murder.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23026324

smearは「＜人が＞＜油など＞を＜人に・物＞に塗りつける」「…を（油などで）汚す、＜文字など＞を（インク・ペンキなどで）こすって不鮮明にする」という意味の他に、「＜名誉など＞をけがす；＜人・物＞を中傷する」という意味もあります。（『ジーニアス英和辞典　第４版』大修館）
LDOCEにも"to tell an untrue story about someone important in order to make people lose respect for them - used especially in newspapers"と載っています。(Hatahata)