Publisher Judith Regan, who was unceremoniously dismissed by HarperCollins last year in the midst of the O. J. Simpson book controversy, has filed a lawsuit against her former employer and parent company News Corps., claiming that a smear campaign was conducted against her in order to protect Rudolph Giuliani’s presidential candidacy.

Regan filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against HarperCollins and its parent News Corp., claiming she was instructed by a News Corp. executive to lie to federal investigators and withhold damaging information about former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, that could affect Rudolph Giuliani's campaign.

Regan was reportedly having an affair with Kerik at the time. The former police commissioner was indicted this week on federal corruption charges. Kerik’s connection to Giuliani is that he was recommended by the latter to President Bush for secretary of Homeland security in 2001. Subsequent revelation of Kerik’s lawless practices led to the withdrawal of the nomination.

The suit, filed at Manhattan Supreme Court, says a News Corp. exec requested of Regan that she did not hand any “relevant documents” to government officials investigating Kerik, the New York Daily News reports.

“Because of the damaging information that defendants believed Regan possessed, defendants knew they would be protecting Giuliani if they could preemptively discredit her,” the suit says, as quoted by the Daily News.

It is the former publisher’s claim that last year’s O. J. Simpson “If I Did it” project was the opportunity the company was waiting for to fire her and destroy her credibility and reputation. The book was ultimately withdrawn from publication, when the public reaction was widely negative and indignant. An accompanying interview with Simpson on Fox was also cancelled.

Her dismissal in December 2006 was explained by News Corp. through alleged anti-Semitic remarks she made during a phone conversation with a company lawyer.

“This charge was completely fabricated,” the suit says of the alleged anti-Semitic comments.

News Corp. has reportedly already responded to Regan’s allegations, with representative Howard Rubenstein saying that the claims are “preposterous.”

Claiming that News Corp. has damaged her reputation, portraying her as an “unethical businesswoman devoid of any integrity,” Regan’s suit is seeking compensatory damages of $100 million and punitive damages.

While at HarperCollins, Regan had her own imprint, ReganBooks, as well as her own show on Fox News Channel. ReganBooks published such books as Jenna Jameson’s “How to Make Love Like a Porn Star” and biographies by General Tommy Franks, pro wrestler Mick Foley and radio talk show host Howard Stern.