TUCSON (KVOA) - A battle over a war of words has been brewing downtown since September is turning into a lawsuit against the city of Tucson and some of its top officials.
Defamation, false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress are all claims levied at the City of Tucson, Mayor Romero and City Councilwoman Nikki Lee in a complaint outlining the lawsuit.
According to court documents, Tucson Back the Blue Line (TBBL), a pro-police nonprofit and its president, Timothy Cesolini are suing them in Pima County Superior Court.
It all stems from an incident in July when Cesolini applied for a permit to paint a blue line in support of police on a city street. The city granted the permit but revoked it the same day.
At the time, Romero said Cesolini was "an individual with known ties to white supremacist ideology" and "requests from white supremacists have no place on our city streets."
Cesolini and TBBL deny those allegations, saying in a court document, " Mr. Cesolini does not—and has not—ever held membership in a white supremacist organization... TBBL lacks endorsements, memberships, or affinities to such groups... (They) do not endorse white supremacist ideology."
The lawsuit also targets Councilwoman Lee, saying she supported the Mayor's allegedly false claims in a response she posted after she was accused of supporting the permit and white supremacy.
News 4 Tucson Investigators asked the City, the Mayor's and Lee's Office for a response to the allegations.
City Attorney Mike Rankin told News 4 Tucson Investigators, "as with any litigation, I nor any of the city officials involved in the litigation will offer comment or provide an interview."
The City, Romero and Lee have a little more than two weeks to respond to the court, acknowledging the complaint.
Complaint-Cesolini-V.-Romero-EndorsedIf you have a story you'd like us to look into, email us at investigators@kvoa.Com or call our tip line 520-955-4444.
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December 18, 2020 at 08:08AM
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N4T Investigators: War of Words Follow Up - KVOA Tucson News
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