Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura is suing the widow of late American hero sniper Chris Kyle, alleging her late hero husband damaged him by claiming he punched Ventura in his book, American Sniper, when Ventura made anti-war comments at a California bar.
Ventura, the wildcard former professional wrestler and commentator who floated that he may want to run for president in 2016 with Howard Stern, had sued Kyle, claiming his words damaged and harmed him, before Kyle’s tragic death.
According to the Star-Tribune, the motion, which was filed last week, claims “although Kyle is deceased, his ‘American Sniper’ book continues to sell and it is soon to be made into a movie,” and “it would be unjust to permit the estate to continue to profit from Kyle’s wrongful conduct and to leave Governor Ventura without redress for ongoing damage to his reputation.” Ventura has denied Kyle’s allegations.
Taya Kyle’s attorney said Ventura’s actions were “a disappointment, but no surprise,” and the action that serves “no useful purpose” “likely will promote public perception of Jesse Ventura as someone who has little or no regard for the feelings and welfare of surviving family members of deceased war heroes.”
Kyle claimed in his book that he punched out “Scruff Face” at a California bar after “Scruff Face,” according to the Star-Tribune, “made disparaging remarks about the war, the United States and President George W. Bush.”
Though Kyle did not name Ventura in the book, he acknowledged “Scruff Face” was Ventura while promoting his book on shows like Bill O’Reilly’s “The O’Reilly Factor” on Fox News.
The hearing is scheduled for June 17 in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.
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