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JESSE VENTURA TAKES THE STAND IN DEFAMATION LAWSUIT

WWE Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura’s lawsuit against the estate of the late Chris Kyle, who wrote in his book “American Sniper” that he had punched out Ventura outside a Minnesota bar after the former Governor had bad-mouthed Navy SEALS, officially went to trial this month and yesterday, Ventura, who was a Navy SEAL during the Vietnam War, took the stand.

Kyle's 2012 book included the 2006 story of Kyle punching out someone referred to as "Scruff-Face", who Kyle asked to come meet inside a bar to meet another Navy SEAL who was injured in the Iraq war. He claimed that "Scruff-Face" acted as if "he couldn't be bothered" and began commenting on the politics of the war, stating that the United States was only there so President Bush could show up his father, that the country was murdering men, women and children and that he hates America so much, he moved to Baja California. Kyle then claimed that "Scuff-Face" acted like he was going to throw a punch, so Kyle punched him out.

Baja is where Ventura now resides in Mexico and Kyle later commented that it was Ventura he was referring to. Ventura filed a defamation suit against Kyle and noted that his portrayal made him no longer feel welcome at SEAL reunions and "left a hole" in his heart. He claims the incident never happened.

Ventura testified yesterday that his portrayal in the book led to the end of his TruTV “Conspiracy Theory” series and that it also led to job offers drying up for him, as he went from making $13 million on the decade before the book was released to $190,000 in 2012, when “Sniper” was released. Ventura noted that he was never told up-front that the offers were drying up because of the book, but said, “They never tell you why.”

After Kyle was shot to death on a gun range in 2013, Ventura moved forward with his already-filed lawsuit, suing Kyle’s estate, including his widow, which garnered Ventura a lot of criticism.

On the stand, Ventura remained steadfast that the incident never happened on the stand, despite the Kyle Estate’s attorney noting that he would be bringing forward witnesses to the event.

Ventura’s testimony was expected to continue today with the lawsuit getting a lot of media attention in the Minnesota area. Attempts at settling the lawsuit were unsuccessful, leading to the current trial.

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