Hungary's tax chief sues US diplomat for libel after comments about corruption at tax office

The head of Hungary's tax authority has sued a senior American diplomat in Budapest for libel after he said in a published interview that the U.S. had knowledge of corruption at the tax office.

Ildiko Vida's lawyer says he had filed a criminal lawsuit and a civil lawsuit for libel against U.S. Embassy charge d' affairs M. Andre Goodfriend, seeking compensation of 5 million forints ($20,200).

Lawyer Barnabas Futo says he has also asked the Budapest Court and the chief prosecutor's office to adjourn the lawsuits until the U.S. decides whether or not to suspend Goodfriend's diplomatic immunity.

Vida is the only one of six otherwise unnamed public officials to have admitted having been banned from entering the U.S. because of corruption allegations.