Posted on 09/03/2003 9:20:38 PM PDT by dogbyte12
An anguished dad, desperate to stop speculation about the paternity of his toddler son, today sued a former member of the president's family for defamation.
"This has been a nightmare," said Robert Andrews, the ex-husband of the woman now dating presidential son and brother Neil Bush. "The allegations have been so nasty and so false I feel I must answer. My patience is used up."
The lawsuit, filed in state district court on behalf of 2-year-old, Thomas Alexander Andrews, said Sharon Bush has suggested to reporters, friends, even fast food restaurant employees that Neil Bush, not Andrews, is the child's biological father.
The Bushes had been married 23 years when they signed a mediated divorce agreement in April. Andrews and his ex-wife, Maria, had been married 14 years when they divorced in October. Neil and Maria met several years ago, when she was working as a volunteer for former first lady Barbara Bush.
Dale Jefferson, Robert Andrews' attorney, says his client is worried not only about gossip but about Sharon Bush writing a book about the extended Bush family and including defamatory statements about Thomas Alexander.
Andrews, president and CEO of Andrews Technologies, decided to sue when he learned his son was the subject of gossip in a Memorial-area smoothie shop, Jefferson said.
"Sharon and Robert had two meetings," Jefferson said. "And in those meetings, Sharon told him face to face, `Alex is not your child.' Robert told her to leave the kids out of it and to leave Maria out of it, too." (The Andrews have two other children.)
Robert Andrews is seeking a minimum of $850,000 in damages, legal fees, a written public apology and a lien on all book advances or royalties.
"This is not a financial issue," he said during a press conference Wednesday. "I just want these slanderous allegations to stop."
Sharon Bush, when told about the lawsuit Wednesday morning, said she did not defame anyone.
"I did not start that (paternity) rumor. It was started by people who have seen the baby, not me."
Sharon Bush referred further questions to trial lawyer David Berg.
Berg said he had not seen the lawsuit, but had been contacted by Sharon Bush about it.
"The irony is lost on no one," he said. "She is being sued for $850,000, and that is the exact amount she paid for the house today."
During and after the divorce, the Bushes fought bitterly over the home they shared for 10 years. Neil wanted to sell it; she has been trying to raise the money to buy him out and closed on the deal Wednesday, Berg said.
Neil Bush -- who divides his time between Houston and Austin -- has not discussed the divorce and related legal action. Until Wednesday, so had Maria Andrews, who is in Paris with her kids. Through her attorney, Laura Spalding, Andrews said that she understands her ex-husband's feelings, but wonders if a lawsuit is in the children's best interests.
When asked at the press conference, Andrews said he had no plans to participate in a paternity test.
"I don't want to dignify the comments in that fashion," he said.
Gets better:
When asked at the press conference, Andrews said he had no plans to participate in a paternity test.
Dude, you're an idiot!
If Neil is the father, he should be honorable and support the kid as well. This is a toughie. I know of a case where a married man wasn't the bio father, but still wants the child to not know that mom was sleeping around.
It is not as if Andrews is a pauper nor does he want support from someone he claims is not the father. I would agree with your comments under different circumstances.
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