RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A former assistant attorney general is appealing the dismissal of her lawsuit claiming she was improperly fired after being accused of posting derogatory comments about her boss on a newspaper’s website. Samantha Vanterpool’s notice of appeal was transmitted to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday.
The lawsuit names former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and his former chief deputy, Charles James Jr., as defendants. According to the complaint, Vanterpool was fired over comments posted in response to a Washington Post article. The anonymous reader called Cuccinelli an “egomaniac” who used his position for self-promotion. Vanterpool claims she was fired in retaliation for exercising her First Amendment rights.
U.S. District Judge James Spencer ruled last month that Vanterpool could be fired for political reasons without violating the Constitution.
