Posted on 08/05/2014 7:00:31 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura launched Tuesday a public relations campaign to explain why he filed the high-profile defamation suit he won last week.
In a wide-ranging interview on WCCO Radio, and in an online video on Ora.tv, Ventura repeatedly said the lawsuit was not about the money; it was about clearing his name.
“For me, it was always about the lie,” said Ventura, the former Navy SEAL and professional wrestler, who said he would have settled for an apology if the publishers of “American Sniper” admitted they fabricated a story about him.
“All they did was offer money,” he said. “I refused, because I wanted to get my name back.”
Chris Kyle, the author of the best-selling book, said he “punched out” Ventura for making offensive comments about Navy SEALs, an incident Ventura denies ever happened.
A jury last week awarded Ventura $1.8 million in damages for defamation and “unjust enrichment”.
An unapologetic Ventura said he had no second thoughts about suing Chris Kyle’s widow, Taya Kyle, after he was murdered.
He said she used her widow status for sympathy, calling it a legal tactic to make him look bad in court.
“(They thought) the upcoming court battle would look a whole lot better,” he said. “The widow? And the children? Look how I’ve been beaten up over that.”
Ventura said much of the $1.8 million in damages will go to his legal team, whose fees were in “the high hundreds of thousands of dollars”.
But none of it will go to charity or to Taya Kayle, whom he said “is making millions” off the book and an upcoming movie.
“Just because she’s a widow does not mean she can profit from defamation and slander. And that’s what she’s done,” he said.
Ventura also said that not keeping the money would go against what the jury wanted: to reward him for the financial damage he says he suffered because of the book.
“I would never counteract the jury like that,” he said. “To me, that would be like slapping the jury in the face.”
Actually completely amazing (or, more likely completely dumb) that he’d file suit against a dead hero in the first place. Especially since I hear he isn’t even mentioned by name in the book.Now he’s getting more press as an a*****e than he’s had in years. Nice job, Jesse and his crazy law firm.
This, coming from a fake that claims to be a Vietnam combat veteran SEAL.
I guess just because Jesse the Wussy is a liar doesn’t mean he can’t profit from fraud.
““For me, it was always about the lie,” said Ventura, the former Navy SEAL “
Ironic words since Jesse the Wussy was never a SEAL and profited from lying about being a Vietnam combat veteran SEAL.
Secret audio tape of Jesse in the Minnesota Governor’s Mansion:
http://www.radiotapes.com/KQRS/KQRS-FM_Jesse_Defends_Tyrell.mp3
Legend has it that he trained as a UDT and became famous as a kitchen cook.
Legend has it...
Keep digging, lowlife.
Agreed. Trying to slander Jesse is like trying to deface a White Castle slider.
10:00 news.
All the local stations are breaking with this story.
Over to ION and Criminal Minds.
Goodnight Freepers!
Make a donation.
WOW....War On Widows
I have served on two juies ... it’s a complicated experience and very interesting. I won’t cast aspersions on this jury.
Ventura was a jerk before this trial. I still think poorly of him. He didn’t do himself any favors.
Thank you! I had to scroll through three dozen DU-worthy diatribes to find your reasoned assessment. There's a bit too much military worship on FR these days, and way too much fawning over anything labeled "special operations" -- as if these subsets of America are inherently more moral or righteous than everyone else. Here's a news flash: a SEAL can lie just like anyone else, and in this case a jury examined the evidence and determined that a SEAL did lie and in so doing libeled another person. Regardless of what one thinks about Jesse Ventura, there is no honor in lying.
Jess, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, being a heel in real life is not like being a heel in pro wrestling. If you’re a heel in pro wrestling, you’re cool. If you’re a heel in real life, you’re just a jerk.
The WWE: The bouts are scripted, but the concussions are very, very real.
This evil POS was in Predator the movie. The first one.
How could you people in Minnesota ever elect him as Gov.? Like I should talk living in Calif.
“one soldier making up complete lies about another “
Not familiar with the alleged lie,,was Ventura mentioned by name?
Gee back in Nov 2011 Ventura didn’t get his way in court and has since said
“I will never stand for a national anthem again. I will turn my back and I will raise a fist,” he said.
And he wants to blame Kyle for his ugly-azz image problems?
Maybe a Seal did lie. I don’t know and I don’t care. The point is the matter should have ended when said Seal died leaving a widow and child. A decent man would never pursue her to ‘clear his name’ about a bar fight let alone a buffoon who parades around in a fake wrestling ring. There is not enough scorn in the world to pour on the jackass.
What a man, that Jesse!
That's an old smear. Wrestling might be a little fruity, but it's certainly not fake.
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