Sharpton pondering lawsuit against Limbaugh

Rev. Al Sharpton is reportedly preparing to file a lawsuit against conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who Sharpton charged on Saturday had inaccurately portrayed his role in a famous 1991 New York riot.

The latest spat between the two public figures concerns an op-ed Limbaugh published in the Wall Street Journal on Saturday morning. In it, the radio host fires back at critics who said Limbaugh was too divisive to become owner of the St. Louis Rams' football franchise -- an argument advanced most vocally by Sharpton, who even wrote a letter to the league commissioner last week asking him to reject Limbaugh's bid.

Limbaugh's op-ed on Saturday attempts to answer almost all of those original arguments, but he also takes a shot at Sharpton's remarks specifically. He writes:

"It didn't take long before my name was selectively leaked to the media as part of the Checketts investment group [which was bidding for the team]. 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."

Sharpton, however, said in a statement obtained by CNN that Limbaugh's recollection of the facts was "blatantly wrong." From the statement:

"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...

[snip]

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."

Ultimately, Sharpton said Saturday he would proceed with his lawsuit -- unless Limbaugh corrects the record and apologizes.