ST. PAUL, Minn. — Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura is suing the publisher of the book that a federal jury said defamed him.
Ventura was awarded $1.8 million in a defamation lawsuit that alleged “American Sniper” author Chris Kyle made up claims in his book about punching Ventura after he made offensive comments about Navy SEALS at a California bar in 2006. Ventura says it never happened. Both men are former SEALs. Kyle died last year.
The Star Tribune reports Ventura’s new lawsuit against HarperCollins says publicity about the book and Kyle’s claims about him generated millions of dollars in profits for the New York publisher. The lawsuit asks for $150,000, a figure which could increase in any possible settlement discussions.
The book has been made into a movie directed by Clint Eastwood and being released Dec. 25.
HarperCollins executives say their attorneys haven’t seen the lawsuit.
