US: The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is being sued for libel by a stuntwoman who alleges that he groped her on a film set.
The news of the libel suit came on the same day that Mr Schwarzenegger announced he had decided not to carry out a promised investigation into the groping allegations made by 15 women in the final days of the gubernatorial election in October.
Ms Rhonda Miller (53), an LA-based stuntwoman, had claimed the actor had lifted up her shirt, taken a photograph of her breasts and groped her when the two were working on Terminator 2 in 1991. She claimed she was groped again on the set of True Lies in 1994.
Shortly after the allegations were made to the media, reporters received an e-mail from the Schwarzenegger campaign. The e-mail directed the media to a court web-site and suggested they tap in the name Rhonda Miller. The website indicated a Rhonda Miller had a criminal record for offences which included prostitution, forgery and drug dealing.
However, the Rhonda Miller with the record was a different person. The stuntwoman has no criminal record, said her legal team yesterday. Some news organisations reported that the woman making the claims had a criminal record. "Since this happened, I haven't been able to get a job in the entertainment industry, despite my best efforts," said Ms Miller at a press conference. The governor's legal team dismissed the libel action as "without merit."