Jeff Greene sues Florida newspapers

The millionaire failed candidate goes after the journalists who wrote about his party yacht

Topics: Florida Senate Race, War Room, 2010 Elections,

Jeff Greene sues Florida newspapersDemocratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene speaks to reporters at his election night headquarters for Florida's primary election in West Palm Beach, Florida August 24, 2010. REUTERS/Joe Skipper (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT)(Credit: © Joe Skipper / Reuters)

Failed Florida Senate candidate Jeff Greene is suing The St. Petersburg Times and the Miami Herald for libel, because they told people about his super-fun mega-yacht parties.

The Times reported that Mike Tyson cruised around the world with Greene on his yacht, partying and doing drugs. They were forced to correct the story, though, when Tyson told them that he never did the drugs he was doing while he was specifically on Greene’s boat. He would get off the boat, first.

The Times also had a more serious piece on the time Greene unloaded a bunch of worthless property he’d developed in California on a criminal who is now in jail for fraud. There’s been no correction in that one.

Rich people sometimes like to sue for libel because they’re mad that the newspapers said mean things about them, but they very seldom win, in America. If you’re rich enough, though, it’s totally worth it just to make the newspapers suffer through expensive and time-consuming litigation.

Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene

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