GWINNETT, Ga. — An elected official is suing Gwinnett County, years after the Republican leader grabbed national attention for his offensive remarks about Congressman John Lewis.
Lawyers for Tommy Hunter, the District 3 Commissioner for Gwinnett County, filed the lawsuit against the county June 12.
The suit claims that the council adopted policies and procedures to "chill, restrict, and shut down" Hunter's and others first amendment right to "express partisan political criticisms and partisan political speech about elected governmental officials and matters of partisan public political discourse."
It was January 2017 when Hunter posted on his private Facebook page a post calling Congressman Lewis a derogatory name, after the Civil Rights leader called out President Donald Trump on national television.
An ethics complaint against Hunter was subsequently filed by a non-resident of Gwinnett County, according to the lawsuit. The ethics board ultimately came to the conclusion that the commissioner's comments violated the county's Code of Ethics, and the county issued a reprimand.
Hunter claims he was denied the right to "effective representation" during the investigation, something the lawsuit characterized as a "motivated sham process." He also claimed he was not offered a process to appeal the board's findings.
The lawsuit claims Hunter's comments did not constitute a "clear or present danger" when he made them, and goes on to accuse the county of allowing other public officials to make political comments about publicly elected officials.
Hunter claims his reputation has since been damaged in the fallout from making the comments - claiming continued economic injury, humiliation and more.
He's now seeking compensation for the supposed damage done.
A spokesperson for Gwinnett County told 11Alive on Tuesday they will not be commenting on the pending litigation.