Frenchko’s attorneys challenge officials’ appeal | News, Sports, Jobs

WARREN — Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko is fighting an appeal from several county officials, arguing in court documents that her July 2022 arrest during a board meeting was a politically motivated act of retaliation.

In a case now before the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Frenchko’s legal team contends that she was unlawfully arrested for criticizing Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe and that her First Amendment rights were violated.

The brief, filed by attorneys Matt Miller-Novak and David J. Betras, on behalf of Frenchko, argues that her arrest lacked probable cause and was orchestrated by political opponents seeking to silence her outspoken criticism of county leadership.

The case has drawn attention to claims of misconduct and chaos in Trumbull County government meetings, where tensions between Frenchko and fellow commissioners often boiled over.

The lawsuit stems from a July 7, 2022, board meeting, during which Frenchko criticized Monroe’s handling of inmate care at the county jail.

According to court documents, Frenchko read an email from the mother of an inmate alleging medical neglect. Monroe, who was not present, demanded a public apology from Frenchko in response to her claims.

When Frenchko refused to back down, fellow commissioners Frank Fuda, who is no longer in office, and Mauro Cantalamessa accused her of disrupting the meeting. She was subsequently removed and arrested by deputies from Monroe’s office. Frenchko maintains that her removal was unprovoked and she was treated differently than others who had caused similar disruptions during meetings.

“Governments may not arrest their political opponents for their critical speech,” Frenchko’s attorneys wrote in their brief, pointing to the US Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Gonzalez v. Trevino.

The ruling prohibits arresting individuals for actions that are typically overlooked or unpunished in similar cases, which Frenchko’s lawyers argue applies to her arrest.

The lawsuit also alleges that Fuda and Cantalamessa, both Democrats, conspired with Monroe to target Frenchko, a Republican and the first woman to serve as a Trumbull County commissioner in three decades.

According to testimony cited in the brief, Monroe was in communication with deputies before and after the arrest, furthering claims that the incident was coordinated.

Frenchko’s legal team also has accused the defendants of destroying crucial evidence, including text messages exchanged between Monroe, commissioners, and county employees. These messages were reportedly deleted despite a court preservation order, raising concerns of a cover-up.

The defendants, however, argued that Frenchko was disruptive during the meeting and that her arrest was lawful. They claim immunity under state and federal law, citing a previous court decision that public officials may remove disruptive individuals from meetings.

The Sixth Circuit will weigh whether the arrest violated Frenchko’s constitutional rights and if the defendants are entitled to immunity. Oral arguments are expected to focus heavily on the recent Gonzalez v. Trevino decision, which Frenchko’s attorneys argue is critical to the case.

Frenchko’s arrest and ongoing legal battle have continued to deepen the political divisions in Trumbull County, where she has long been a vocal critic of the county’s leadership. Her lawyers contend that her arrest was a clear attempt to stifle dissent and silence a political adversary.

The Sixth Circuit’s ruling could have significant implications for the balance of power in local government, as well as the rights of public officials to speak freely without fear of retribution, an email from her attorneys states.