Libel Suit Against Schwarzenegger

A woman who alleged sexual harassment by Arnold Schwarzenegger filed a libel lawsuit Monday against the governor, saying his staff falsely suggested in an e-mail that she was a convicted felon.

Rhonda Miller, who alleges the actor groped her when she was working as a stunt woman, says she has never been arrested and that the false information about her was broadcast on national television reports.

Her suit seeks unspecified damages.

An attorney for Schwarzenegger, elected despite several similar groping allegations, dismissed the lawsuit as an attempt to gain publicity, and said he expects it to be thrown out.

With attorney Gloria Allred by her side, Miller made the groping allegations in an Oct. 7 news conference, the day before the California gubernatorial recall election.

Within hours, the Schwarzenegger campaign sent an e-mail to several reporters directing them to the Los Angeles Superior Court Web site and instructing them to type in the name "Rhonda Miller."

That produced court records for a woman named Rhonda Miller with a long criminal record.

The e-mail, sent by Schwarzenegger adviser Sean Walsh, said: "We have to believe that as a lawyer Gloria would have thoroughly checked the facts and background of the individual she presented at a news conference today."

The e-mail also noted that Allred was a large contributor to Democratic candidates, including then-incumbent governor Gray Davis.

Attorney Paul Hoffman, who also is representing Miller, said the Schwarzenegger campaign deliberately misled reporters about Miller's background in order to raise doubts about her allegations until the election was over.

"They destroyed her life for one day's advantage," Hoffman said.

Schwarzenegger attorney Marty Singer denied that Walsh's e-mail suggested Miller had a criminal record. The e-mail "does not state specifically that this is the same woman who was making the claim the night before the election," Singer said.

The governor's spokesman, Rob Stutzman, noted that no criminal investigation is under way into the harassment allegations.

"The time has come once and for all to put this issue behind us," Stutzman said.

"He remains sincerely sorry to anyone he may have offended, but there comes a time to move on and focus on the critical issues facing the state."