The Milwaukee County Sheriff says he’s filing a federal lawsuit over what he calls an attack on his free speech by Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.
Sheriff David Clarke is upset with Abele for vetoing $4 million that county supervisors attempted to restore to the sheriff’s office budget. Clarke told conservative talk show host Charlie Sykes on Tuesday he would sue Abele over the veto. He asserted that it’s a violation of his free speech rights, since Abele had said the veto was in response to recent comments by Clarke that disparaged Black Lives Matter activists and black drug dealers.
Reporters asked Abele about Clarke’s comments at a news conference later that day.
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Said Abele: “I wonder which taxpayers are going to be paying for that lawsuit, and whether that money might be better spent on public safety.”
Milwaukee County Supervisor John Weishan, who has battled both Abele and Clarke, said Abele’s budget veto is part of a personal vendetta against the sheriff.
The County Board may try to override the veto.
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