Jesse Ventura blames 'American Sniper' author for ruining his TV career

MINNEAPOLIS, July 14 (UPI) -- Former Navy SEAL and Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura is suing the estate of American Sniper author and former SEAL Chris Kyle over disparaging remarks in Kyle's best-selling autobiography.

According to Ventura, Kyle's claim that he knocked Ventura out in a California bar fight after Ventura allegedly said the SEALs "deserve to lose a few" is both false and actively costing Ventura money.

Ventura told jurors in the decade prior to the publication of American Sniper he made nearly $11 million as an entertainment and political personality but has only made $100,000 annually since 2012. Additionally, Ventura said he no longer feels welcome at Navy SEAL reunions and functions, saying "I've been damaged."

"[My reputation's] been destroyed."

But Kyle's family's attorneys say Ventura destroyed his own reputation by emerging as a voice for conspiracy theorists through his show -- literally called Conspiracy Theory -- and publicly calling the United States "a fascist country."

If successful, Ventura will be awarded from Kyle's estate as Kyle was shot to death by a former Marine in 2013.