"Apparently you have spread this allegation to others"

Who are you referring to as 'others'?

I spoke to one of those people whom the Secretary of State contacted after receipt of such a letter. I thought I understood in an email conversation we had that such 'reports' are only taken seriously if the writer puts their name to them, and that this information is 'passed on'

If that is in fact the case then I have no doubt that Josh also has his facts correct.