Moshe argues on behalf of the people. His argument is that other nations will say that G-d did not have the ability to bring Bnei Yisrael into Canaan, so He killed them in the wilderness. This would be a Chilul HaShem. Moshe then invokes a modified version of Divine Attributes and pleads for forgiveness for the people. G-d agrees to Moshe's pleas.
Commentaries point out the juxtaposition of the episode of the spies.
There are important elements and details to be learned one from the other. For example, it is not just the speaker of Lashon HaRa that transgresses. Those who listen to LH passively, without objecting, those who accept the LH as truth - they too transgress. The Sin of the Spies was not restricted to 10 people. Thousands of those who heard what was said and accepted it, and panicked because of it, they too were guilty.