Washington Lawmaker Sues University, Investigator over Firing

Republican Rep. Matt Manweller is suing Central Washington University and the investigator it hired to look into allegations of inappropriate conduct.

Manweller, a political professor at the college since 2003, was fired from the school last week, and immediately filed a wrongful termination lawsuit naming both CWU and Trish Murphy of Northwest Workplace Law as defendants.

He is seeking more than $2 million in damages. CWU officials said Friday they could not comment on pending litigation. Murphy did not respond to an email seeking comment.

University officials have said the investigative report written by Murphy won’t be made available publicly until later this month. Before his firing, Manweller had been on paid leave from the school since December. That same month he was removed by House Republican leadership from his ranking member position on a House committee, and resigned his position as assistant floor leader. Manweller has denied wrongdoing and issued a video earlier this month accusing the university of manufacturing allegations. He says the investigation was politically motivated.