Ventura Sues Publisher of ‘American Sniper’ Book

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - 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 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.

Ventura's new lawsuit against HarperCollins says publicity about Kyle's claims generated millions of dollars in profits for the New York publisher. The lawsuit seeks $150,000.

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.