Kris Van Meteren presents $17,500 claim to Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission

Frustrated that the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission took no action on a complaint, Kris Van Meteren talked to the press explaining some details in his complaint. Kansas law currently gags someone after filing an ethics complaint and Van Meteren was fined $7500 for his "free speech." The Kansas Attorney General's opinion was the Kansas law was unconstitutional, but Van Meteren spent $17,500 in attorney fees defending his first amendment right. Today, Van Meteren presented a claim to the Ethics commission for his legal fees, but the commission said it did not have the authority to grant or deny his request.. After a motion was made to reject Van Meteren's claim, that motion was withdrawn and the Commission took no action. Van Meteren may now take his case to Federal Court to seek relief.

Also see: http://kansasmeadowlark.com/2009/07/22/ethics-commission-declines-action/

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Kris Van Meteren
• free speech
• First Amendment

[peterell61]

Isn't this part of the smear campaign against state Senator Umbarger? In order to try to put a far-right winger in his place?