Former Vice President Al Gore is suing Al Jazeera for withholding money from sale of Current TV. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn | License Photo

WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Former Vice President Al Gore is suing Al Jazeera, saying it's withholding money promised from sale of Current TV.

Al Jazeera purchased Current TV, its broadcast contracts and subcribers in January 2013 for over $500 million.


The acquisition of Current TV, co-founded by Gore in 2005, allowed Al Jazeera to air Al Jazeera America in 43 million homes across the U.S.

Since its launch, the cable news network has drawn praise for its ability to break stories objectively and its willingness to cover issues while willfully ignoring the spin of talking points and sound-bites.

But Gore's Attorney David Boies, the same lawyer who represented the former presidential candidate in Bush v. Gore, says Al Jazeera is withholding money that is rightfully due to Current's former shareholders.

"Al Jazeera America wants to give itself a discount on the purchase price that was agreed to nearly two years ago. We are asking the court to order Al Jazeera America to stop wrongfully withholding the escrow funds that belong to Current's former shareholders."

The suit was filed in Delaware state court.