Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene said Friday he will sue the St. Petersburg Times if the paper does not retract an article about his real estate transactions.
The article, which was published Aug. 8, detailed Greenes sale of condos in California that landed at least one of the buyers in prison. Greene said the article ignored documents in order to paint him in a negative light.
Im not going to allow some reporter who wants to libel me to attempt to destroy my 37-year reputation in business, Greene said while speaking with reporters during a campaign stop in Tallahassee. You can be sure that if they dont print a retraction, there will absolutely be a lawsuit filed and itll be a substantial lawsuit because I am a high net-worth individual who does earn a lot of money. If my reputation is damaged, the St. Petersburg Times will be held accountable.
Greene said the paper exaggerated his ties to the man, James Delbert McConville, in an effort to make him look bad.
I sold a building to a complete stranger -- someone Ive to this day in my life never seen, spoke to, had anything to do with -- and they tried to connect me with this guy, he said. Anyone whos ever sold a car or a house to someone, you dont know who youre selling it to and I have no relationship with him whatsoever. So to try to be connected to some crook whos in jail is libelous, its dishonest and I intend to stand up to the St. Petersburg Times.
As polls have shown Greene drawing basically even with his primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the volume of stories about his background and financial dealings has increased. The latest St. Petersburg Times was completely untrue, he said.
Its not only damaging to my race for Senate, but its damaging to my reputation, and I will not tolerate it, he said.
The paper stands by the story.
The Times' coverage of Mr. Greene and his business transactions has been thorough and fair, and the reporting is well-documented in public records, the paper said in a statement. Our story is accurate, balanced and we stand by it. Mr.Greene is welcome to submit a letter to the editor if he wishes to take further exception."
Greenes primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, circulated a Washington, D.C.-based newspapers article about the dust-up in an e-mail to supporters, though the campaign did not comment directly on the possible lawsuit.
