Harrah’s threatens legal action against governor

Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004 | 9:16 a.m.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Harrah's Entertainment said Wednesday that it is contemplating legal action against Gov. Don Carcieri over comments he made at an antigambling conference.

Harrah's spokeswoman Jan Jones said the governor claimed that Harrah's tried to win a law firm's support for a West Warwick casino proposal by promising business from an estimated 200 home foreclosures a year.

She called the claim "patently untrue."

Carcieri's spokesman, Jeff Neal, said the governor had no recollection of naming Harrah's, and said only that he had heard that casino supporters were telling law firms about potential business from foreclosures if a casino opened in the state.

"The governor is certainly not going to bow down to threats from out-of-state casino lobbyists," Neal said.

Jones said if the governor doesn't retract what he said, Carcieri should expect Harrah's to take legal action.

"You can't indiscriminately slander a company because of your personal opinion," she said. "Prove it, retract it, or expect us to take legal action."

Harrah's also disputes any connection between casino openings and home foreclosures and says it has studies including one by the U.S. Treasury Department to prove its position.