NYT/Reuters: Schwarzenegger, British TV Host Settle Lawsuit

[DeepModem Mom]

Schwarzenegger, British TV Host Settle Lawsuit
By REUTERS
Published: August 25, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has settled a libel lawsuit brought by a British television personality who had accused the celebrity politician of groping her, one of his aides said on Friday.

The settlement ends one of the lingering disputes from the 2003 election in which the former star of the "Terminator'' films was dogged by many allegations of sexual harassment during his Hollywood career.

***

In her lawsuit, Anna Richardson accused Schwarzenegger, current Schwarzenegger aide, former film publicist Sheryl Main and campaign spokesman Sean Walsh of smearing her reputation.

They had said during Schwarzenegger's 2003 campaign for governor she had forced herself on the Hollywood icon, in response to her claim that he had fondled her....

***

The action star turned politician appeared on Richardson's television show in late 2000 to promote a movie. After taping the show, he pulled her on to his knee and touched her left breast, according to Richardson's account.

A number of similar accusations were made during the tumultuous 2003 election that put Schwarzenegger into office....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-schwarzenegger-lawsuit.html

[Bushfire]

1. Schwarzenegger libel 'settled'

Saturday, 26 August 2006, 03:48 GMT 04:48 UK

A libel action brought in London by a UK TV presenter against Arnold Schwarzenegger and two of his aides has been settled, reports say.
Anna Richardson was suing the California governor and two aides over comments they made about her claims that he groped her in December 2000.

The parties' lawyers said in a joint statement that they were satisfied, the Associated Press reports.

The Terminator star faces a re-election battle for governor in November.

Details were not given of the settlement, which was confirmed for Reuters by one of the aides, former film publicist Sheryl Main.

"Yes, it is true that it has been settled," she told the news agency by telephone.

more...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5288194.stm

Arnold why settle if the accusations had no merit?

also

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/26/GUV.TMP

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003226854_arnold26.html

http://www.theage.com.au/news/people/arnie-terminates-grope-libel-suit/2006/08/26/1156012778691.html

[Binka]

2. Good On Anna

Toss this has been hack to the curb CA!

[rodeodance]

3. interesting, He uses campaign donations for pay for this:

.......In the past, the governor has used campaign contributions to pay the legal fees associated with the cases.

More than $200,000 donated to Californians for Schwarzenegger was used in 2004 to pay Singer and another California attorney for their work on the Miller case.

Another $116,000 from the committee was used also in 2004 to pay British attorney Keith Schilling.

The most recent filing by Californians for Schwarzenegger, a committee he set up to run his 2003 election, shows a debt to Schilling of $96,268.

Richardson was the host of a late night TV show that Schwarzenegger appeared on to promote the movie "The 6th Day." She claimed Schwarzenegger pulled her to him after the interview, saying "I want to know if your breasts are real."

Page B - 1
URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/08/26/GUV.TMP

[Bushfire]

4. Hope this doesn't get lost in the Friday news dump n/t

kick and recommend!

[bemildred]

5. LA Times version is juicier:

---

Schwarzenegger had appeared on Richardson's late-night show in December 2000 to promote his movie "The 6th Day." Richardson, then 29, said that after the taping, Schwarzenegger pulled her onto his knee, said, "I want to know if your breasts are real" and groped her left breast.

---

Main, Schwarzenegger's publicist, had told The Times that Richardson had risen from her chair, cupped her right breast and said: "What do you think of these?" Main said Richardson was then escorted out of the room. Walsh issued a blanket denial, saying that any account of inappropriate conduct was part of an orchestrated political attack.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arnold26aug26,1,2183390.story?coll=la-headlines-california