A former Denver elections worker who says she lost her job after speaking to comedian Jon Stewart about her concerns for the safety of poll workers has settled a lawsuit alleging the city violated her First Amendment rights for $65,000, her lawyer said Friday.
Virginia Chau, a lawyer who worked part-time as a polling center supervisor during elections, spoke in 2022 about threats made against election workers and the lack of training for them during a panel discussion on the short-lived streaming show “The Problem with Jon Stewart” in 2022.
Election offices and workers have been the target of harassment and threats since the 2020 presidential election after President Donald Trump claimed the election was stolen from him because of fraud.
Denver paid Chau $65,000 this week under the settlement agreement, her lawyer, David Lane, said. A copy of the Sept. 2 deal he provided said Denver denied any wrongdoing against Chau.
Representatives for the city attorney’s office and the clerk and recorder’s office, which runs elections, did not immediately respond to emails and telephone calls requesting comment.
Chau alleged she was removed as a supervisor because of her comments on the show and told she could be a voting hotline representative instead because no one from the public would recognize her in that job. She considered it a demotion and did not accept the new assignment.
Chau earned about $10,000 a year working on elections, doing the job mostly because, as an immigrant, she felt privileged to live in a democracy, Lane said. He said the loss of her job was devastating.
Related Articles
Tobacco companies aid vape shops in push to repeal Denver flavored tobacco ban, outraising law’s backers Colorado’s House Republicans elect new minority leader No one talks about it, but there is one simple way to save Social Security — the wealthy pay more (Letters) CU Regent Wanda James takes on Diana DeGette, announcing bid to unseat Denver’s long-serving congresswoman Former president of Colorado Senate announces run for state treasurerChau’s lawsuit said she had a right to speak about a matter of public importance as a private citizen under the First Amendment. According to court documents, Denver said Chau was speaking as a government employee about her job and that it did not violate her free speech rights. The city denied she was terminated or demoted, just reassigned.
Lane said the Supreme Court has ruled that people who work for the government still have a right to express their personal views.
“Denver clearly understood they had violated the First Amendment and they responsibly settled the case for less money than it would have cost them had they pushed it further and taken it to trial,” he said.
Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.
Hence then, the article about denver elections worker who lost job after telling jon stewart about safety fears settles lawsuit was published today ( ) and is available on The Denver Post ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Denver elections worker who lost job after telling Jon Stewart about safety fears settles lawsuit )
Also on site :
- Two dozen killed in Ukrainian strike on Russian New Year’s celebration – governor
- Volunteer in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reportedly killed during widening protests
- Palestinian Mujahideen Movement Condemns Israeli Enemy& 039;s Prevention of International Organizations from Continuing Their Work