Billionaire Jeff Greene is suing the St. Petersburg Times along with the Miami Herald for libel, and is seeking 500 million dollars in damages.
A participant in the hotly contested Florida Democratic Senate primary race, which he lost by double digits to U.S House Rep. Kendrick Meek, Greene contends that faulty reporting by the newspapers resulted in his loss.
According to Greene, the newspapers published stories about his real estate dealings in California and his 145-foot yacht Summerwind that were ``knowingly based on false information. -The Miami Herald
The St. Petersburg Times story noted that boxer Mike Tyson was a passenger on the yacht in 2005, during a tour around Europe, and that Tyson told Sports Illustrated he had used cocaine in Amsterdam that summer.
New York Times columnist Gail Collins Op-ed of August 18th titled Rich Man, Bad Yacht, stated: "Clearly, the Summerwind has a life of its own, cruising around the globe, burning 50 gallons of fuel an hour, throwing orgies for B-list celebrities while Greene is home reading. It played host to Lindsay Lohan, who Greene claims he’s barely met. It took Mike Tyson on a Black Sea cruise that culminated in a drug-and-sex romp in Amsterdam, but Greene was only around for the part where they visited an 11th-century monastery in Ukraine."
Tyson has denied any drug use aboard the yacht.
"We believe Jeff Greene is a sore loser and he'sNe trying to blame the newspapers because he can't accept the verdict of the voters," Times editor Neil Brown said Wednesday. "When you run for public office you can and should count on public scrutiny because voters have a right to know about the men and women who seek to represent them.
Comments
Not having followed the Florida primary for the senate, I can't comment on all the claims Jeff Greene is making. However, it does seem like sour grapes to blame two newspapers for a los that was in the double digits. Where is the responsibility for his loss? Surely voters are not so gullible if the claims didn't have any truth to them.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!