Jesse Ventura: Former Minn. Governor Reacts To Defamation Lawsuit Win Over Dead Navy SEAL

In the wake of Jesse Ventura’s lawsuit victory over a dead Navy SEAL, the former Minnesota governor is reacting to the verdict. On Tuesday, Ventura won a $1.8 settlement from the estate of Chris Kyle, known as America’s most lethal sniper. As reported in the Inquisitr, Ventura told the court that misleading statements in Kyle’s book, American Sniper, ruined his career. The former governor of Minnesota told CBS Morning:

“I would have been a big-time loser had I not pursued the lawsuit, because… the whole story was fabricated. I was accused of treason, which in the military is the death penalty”.

Chris Kyle alleged that he and Ventura were in a fistfight in 2006, after Ventura suggested that more Navy SEALS deserved to die in the Iraq war. The claim was published in Kyle’s best-selling book, before Kyle was shot to death at a Texas gun range, by a fellow veteran. With Kyle dead, the defamation lawsuit was handled by Kyle’s wife, Taya. Ventura said he has no regrets about making her pay up:

“Taya Kyle had all of her attorney fees paid by insurance. I did not. I incurred two-and-a-half years of lawyer fees that I have to pay to clear my name, and she had insurance paying everything for her”.

It is believed that Taya inherited millions from her husband’s book royalties. American Sniper reportedly earned him up to $3 million and inspired an upcoming Hollywood adaption. While Ventura is contented with the lawsuit’s outcome, critics are saying Ventura’s reputation has been permanently damaged. An editorial in the Washington Post explains the backlash:

“In taking money from the Kyle estate, Ventura is taking a pounding from many military supporters and veterans. The common refrain: Even if Kyle lied about Ventura, they say, the defamation case should have been dropped after Kyle was shot to death.”

Ventura has also been attacked on Twitter about his decision to pursue the lawsuit. Marcus Luttrell, the author of Lone Survivor, skewwered Ventura in a meme. https://twitter.com/MarcusLuttrell/status/494287025382518784 The high profile SEAL posted pictures of Ventura in World Wrestling Federation costumes, with the caption “hit me… I won’t fight back. [I’ll] just wait for you to died then sue your wife”. Ventura served as a Navy SEAL in the 1970s but said he no longer feels welcome in the military community.

“I can’t go to [Underwater Demolition Team]-SEAL reunions anymore because that was the place I always felt safe, and who will be next to throw me under the bus? I’d have to spend my time looking over my shoulder”.

After the verdict in Ventura’s favor was released, he turned tweeted a quote from author George Orwell, with the hashtag “stay vigilant”. https://twitter.com/GovJVentura/status/494142309022187521 In light of Tuesday’s ruling, American Sniper publisher HarperCollins will be editing the book, to take out the passage about Ventura.