Ventura says he’s not going after widow of ‘American Sniper’ author by continuing lawsuit

MINNEAPOLIS – Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura contends he isn’t going after the widow of slain “American Sniper” author Chris Kyle by continuing his defamation lawsuit.

Ventura told The Associated Press late Monday his fight is with the publisher’s insurance company.

Ventura alleges that Kyle defamed him in his bestselling book. In it, Kyle describes a 2006 bar fight in which he claims he punched someone named “Scruff Face,” whom he later identified as Ventura. Ventura says the fight never happened.

Kyle and a friend were killed in February 2013 at a Texas gun range. A federal judge has allowed Ventura’s lawsuit to proceed with Kyle’s widow, Taya Kyle, as the defendant.

Ventura’s comments came during a wide-ranging interview to promote his new show, “Off the Grid,” on digital network Ora TV.