I believe they acquired / stole / bought a stolen sex tape and published it. Freedom of the press (which is the freedom we're talking about) doesn't cover illegality.

Furthermore, it was a civil suit, not a criminal suit. You're talking tort law, not criminal law, which has a lower standard of proof.

Lets put the shoe on the other foot. Say some guy stole nudes from your sister / mother / daughter and posted it on the internet for profit, do you think he should be free from liability of his actions? I would think not.