guilt by association

Cultural  

1. The attribution of guilt to individuals because of the people or organizations with which they associate, rather than because of any crime that they have committed.

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Example Sentences

But a criminal case requires evidence that can be proved, not mere guilt by association.

From The Wall Street Journal

For starters, the U.S. government’s allegations against the firms aren’t merely guilt by association.

From Barron's

There are good reasons of privacy and unfair guilt by association not to dump hundreds of thousands of pages of raw FBI investigatory files into the public arena.

From The Wall Street Journal

Morris, who is Black, called claims of racism preposterous and said it was a campaign of guilt by association.

From Salon

“His critics continue to engage in guilt by association for comments that were not his,” De León’s attorney said in a lawsuit targeting two people whom De León suspected of making the recording.

From Los Angeles Times