Al Sharpton, bring it on!
Al Sharpton is threatening a libel suit against Rush Limbaugh for Rush's reference in Rush's WSJ column to Sharpton's role in the 1991 Crown Heights riot.
Here is what Rush wrote:
Shortly thereafter, the media elicited comments from the likes of Al Sharpton. In 1998 Mr. Sharpton was found guilty of defamation and ordered to pay $65,000 for falsely accusing a New York prosecutor of rape in the 1987 Tawana Brawley case. He also played a leading role in the 1991 Crown Heights riot (he called neighborhood Jews "diamond merchants") and 1995 Freddie's Fashion Mart riot.
Now, Sharpton threatens a lawsuit.
According to a statement put out by Sharpton’s media consultant, a study New York Governor Mario Cuomo commissioned showed Sharpton was not involved in the Crown Heights incident until after the rioting concluded.
"Mr. Limbaugh's blatant and defamatory statements regarding the Crown Heights Riots falsely give the impression that Rev. Sharpton was present during the violence that occurred when in reality he had been called in by the family after the violence," Sharpton’s statement says.
"In terms of Freddie's Fashion Mart, Rev. Al Sharpton, along with local elected officials supported the protests. However, a lone gunman who disagreed with the nonviolent nature of the protests entered the store and killed seven people and himself… For Mr. Limbaugh to imply that Rev. Sharpton has anything to do with someone that killed people and himself is blatantly wrong," the statement continues.
Oh, lovely. Dan you imagine the discovery in this lawsuit? Wouldn't it be delicious for Rush's lawyers to depose Sharpton under oath? Law professor Ann Althouse thinks that Sharpton is playing into Rush's hands.
Sharpton now has to talk about those old riots and the way he acted back then. If he sues, it will draw intense attention to the details of what happened, and we'll have to debate about the precise language Limbaugh used and how close to accurate it was. The question of the damage to Sharpton's reputation will be put in issue, and there will be discovery and factfinding relating to Sharpton's reputation and how much money it is worth. That's pretty risky for Sharpton, who likes to pose as an elder statesman nowadays. Meanwhile, Limbaugh, who may not want to begin any litigation, will have the opportunity to counterclaim, accusing Sharpton of defamation.
Look out, Reverend Al, it's a trap!
Now that Rush won't be buying part of an NFL team, he'll have some loose cash lying around. I bet he'd love to spend that cash paying lawyers to depose Al Sharpton about his "role" in race riots and the worth of Sharpton's reputation.
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