Jayne is right. The statement has been made by the potential claimant to another who has merely recited the same , or similar, statement back to him.There's been no statement to a third party.
(A) would be in great difficulty even if (B) did tell the world.He'd be the author of his own misfortune.Bit difficult to argue that (B) has lowered (A) in the estimation of right thinking people when (A) has done it himself! Just a bit inequitable to blame (B) ! And, of course, it would be hard to argue that the statement wasn't true.Any statement against interest is normally presumed to be true. And, if it isn't true, then (A) is a liar who has run the risk of his own lie about himself being repeated elsewhere.