LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26, 2006

Schwarzenegger Settles Libel Suit

Calif. Gov. Settles Suit Filed By British TV Personality

  • California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks at a gathering of the California Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 19, 2006.

    California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks at a gathering of the California Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 19, 2006.  (AP)

  • Interactive Blockbuster Run

    Schwarzenegger's story, his agenda, photos and more.

(AP)  California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has settled a libel lawsuit with former late-night British TV personality Anna Richardson, who claimed she was groped by the Hollywood actor during a 2000 interview and later defamed by his aides during his 2003 campaign for governor.

"The parties are content to put this matter behind them and are pleased that this legal dispute has now been settled," said a two-sentence statement issued jointly in London on Friday by lawyers for Schwarzenegger and Richardson.

No details were released. The statement said Richardson and the three people she sued — the governor and two top aides, Sean Walsh and publicist Sheryl Main — reached a settlement "to all parties' satisfaction."

The settlement was confirmed by Walsh in a telephone interview. He said he had no comment beyond the lawyers' joint statement.

The agreement spares the governor from what could have been a potentially embarrassing trial as he campaigns for a second term.

Richardson, a former late-night TV personality, sued Schwarzenegger and his two aides in London in May 2004. She claimed Schwarzenegger fondled her breast during a December 2000 interview in London and that his staff later damaged her reputation by contending she encouraged his behavior.

Schwarzenegger's lawyers argued that Richardson did not give a truthful account of events during the interview.

The governor's office in Sacramento referred calls to his personal attorney, Martin Singer. Singer did not respond to phone messages. Main did not respond to telephone or e-mail messages.

About a week before the 2003 recall election, the Los Angeles Times published a lengthy report quoting several women, including Richardson, who said they had been groped and humiliated by Schwarzenegger on movie sets, in cafes and at other locations. Schwarzenegger responded with an apology for having "behaved badly sometimes" and doing some things that "were not right, which I thought were playful."

Schwarzenegger said he would address specifics of the allegations after the election but later changed course, dismissed them as "old news" and announced he would not appoint an investigator to look into the women's claims.

The incident involving Richardson revolves around her interview with Schwarzenegger while he was promoting his film, "The 6th Day." She claimed that he asked if her breasts were real and then reached out and grabbed one.

Main told The Times a different version of events, saying Richardson cupped her right breast and said, "What do you think of these?"

Figures released last year showed Schwarzenegger piled up legal bills of more than $500,000 to defend himself and campaign aides in libel cases related to groping allegations made during the recall election.


©MMVI, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Share:
  • Share
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Mixx
Add a Comment
by eklektos3 August 27, 2006 3:52 AM EDT
Bethsheba, undressed up under the throne of David and yet, David was the 'man after God's own heart,' 1 Sam.13:14. She merely was recorded as having violated the trust of God, (he sees all things, elemental meaning stoicheion Gal.4:3, 9. All works, 'End of Days' Dan.4: 34 to the Glory of God and the end of this perpetual rotation. Nasa, Gen.50:17, into becoming LIFTED UP!
Reply to this comment
by eklektos3 August 27, 2006 3:48 AM EDT
The elect of God, 2Jn.1:13, and Luke 17: 25; & Luke 7: 12-14, being my son, but I'm not in this to ridicule but look up at a God, ALL HIS PURPOSING UP UNDER THE SUN. Genesis 50: 17, forgive is the Hebrew word Nasa, meaning into becoming lifted UP! OUT of this perpetual rotation of Enoch's Gen. 5: 22, (Titanium), and 23, (Vanadium), of the elements, (stoicheion, Gal. 4: 3,9. What may seemed to be an evil work may have been the AC/DC of currency needed for us to breach this rotational shield, at the 'End of Days,' Dan.4:34. Nebuchadnezzer
Schwarzenegger, Dan. 5: 10
Reply to this comment
by eklektos3 August 27, 2006 3:41 AM EDT
'Weaker Vessel', 1 Pet.3:7, 3=atomic : 7 = the nitrogen substance of which we CHON to life a DNA elemental trace of elements, (Gr. Stoicheion, Gal. 4:3, 9). II Sam. 11, and while David had no ill intent of violating Bethsheba, nor betraying the very alliance with Uriah concerning his wife, she undressed knowingly up under the throne of David, (Temptation). As she thought, 'my eyes shall be opened, and I shall become wise, knowing good and evil,' Gen. 3:6, 6-carbon, HEAT! Never play with the elements thinking that the metanoeo won't appear for all to see. A man is a man, look at Lamech, Ge.4: 24, with two women, (What one of them was taken from that young man he had to kill due to temptation, think?) David was a man after God's own heart, 1 Sam. 13:14. What of Bethsheba?
Reply to this comment
by fartnocker2 August 26, 2006 3:23 PM EDT
And they want to change the law to allow this idiot to run for President . Who will be VP Bill give me some under desk Clinton ???
Reply to this comment
  • MOST POPULAR
Discussed
  1. Tempers Flare In Climate Change Flap

    (711 recent comments)

Latest News
News in Pictures
Scroll Left Scroll Right
Connect with CBS News

Stay connected with the CBS News using your favorite social networks and online news applications: