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Sharpton sues for a cool Billion
NEW YORK (July 24, 2002 8:57 p.m. EDT) - The Rev. Al Sharpton sued HBO for $1 billion Wednesday, saying he was defamed by the cable network's airing of a 1983 FBI surveillance tape of him discussing a drug deal.
Sharpton said HBO showed a selectively damning portion of videotape in which he and a federal agent posing as a drug dealer discussed a cocaine shipment. The tape was aired Tuesday night on "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel."
Sharpton, who was not charged with any crime as a result of the tape, said agents recorded a second tape that removes any suspicions about his actions.
On that tape, Sharpton said, he and a record company executive tell the undercover agent, "Don't ever talk to us about a drug deal."
He said he asked HBO to show that tape also, but it did not.
Michael Hardy, one of Sharpton's lawyers, said the decision to air "an incomplete and edited tape unfairly puts Rev. Sharpton in a false light, thereby actually defaming him with malice and a gross irresponsibility."
HBO spokesman Ray Stallone said the lawsuit was "so silly that it is unworthy of comment." He said the network had given Sharpton an opportunity to respond on air and to provide the second tape.
The state court lawsuit names HBO, HBO Real Sports, AOL Time Warner, reporter Bernard Goldberg and reputed former organized crime figure Michael Franzese as defendants. It demands $500 million in compensatory damages and $500 million in punitive damages.
Sharpton said Franzese and the FBI agent, who was posing as a Latin American businessman, had approached him to discuss promoting boxing matches and musical events.
"In the middle of conversation he started talking about how he could cut me in on a cocaine deal," Sharpton said. "I didn't know if he was armed. I was scared so I just nodded my head to everything he said and then he left."
Sharpton suggested the videotape was aired in an attempt to derail his possible 2004 presidential run.
FBI spokesman Joe Valiquette said Tuesday that he had not heard the tapes and that to his knowledge the FBI had not released them.
Sharpton said HBO showed a selectively damning portion of videotape in which he and a federal agent posing as a drug dealer discussed a cocaine shipment. The tape was aired Tuesday night on "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel."
Sharpton, who was not charged with any crime as a result of the tape, said agents recorded a second tape that removes any suspicions about his actions.
On that tape, Sharpton said, he and a record company executive tell the undercover agent, "Don't ever talk to us about a drug deal."
He said he asked HBO to show that tape also, but it did not.
Michael Hardy, one of Sharpton's lawyers, said the decision to air "an incomplete and edited tape unfairly puts Rev. Sharpton in a false light, thereby actually defaming him with malice and a gross irresponsibility."
HBO spokesman Ray Stallone said the lawsuit was "so silly that it is unworthy of comment." He said the network had given Sharpton an opportunity to respond on air and to provide the second tape.
The state court lawsuit names HBO, HBO Real Sports, AOL Time Warner, reporter Bernard Goldberg and reputed former organized crime figure Michael Franzese as defendants. It demands $500 million in compensatory damages and $500 million in punitive damages.
Sharpton said Franzese and the FBI agent, who was posing as a Latin American businessman, had approached him to discuss promoting boxing matches and musical events.
"In the middle of conversation he started talking about how he could cut me in on a cocaine deal," Sharpton said. "I didn't know if he was armed. I was scared so I just nodded my head to everything he said and then he left."
Sharpton suggested the videotape was aired in an attempt to derail his possible 2004 presidential run.
FBI spokesman Joe Valiquette said Tuesday that he had not heard the tapes and that to his knowledge the FBI had not released them.
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