ROANOKE, Va. (CN) — A Botetourt County, Virginia-based prosecutor on Thursday accused a former member of the state’s attorney general’s office of retaliating against her for reporting claims of animal cruelty and abuse of authority.
Former Botetourt County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Gillian Deegan is suing her former boss, Botetourt Commonwealth’s Attorney John Alexander, and former Senior Assistant Attorney General Michelle Welch in Roanoke federal court, for claims of First Amendment free-speech retaliation. Deegan claims the two retaliated against her after she reported misconduct by the Virginia Office of the Attorney General’s Animal Law Unit, which Welch directed. Deegan says Alexander fired her, and Welch filed a**** false complaint against her with the Virginia State Bar.
Deegan reported that the unit abused its authority, engaged in unethical practices and violated state law during and after its investigation of the Natural Bridge Zoo. In 2023, law enforcement removed 89 living and 28 deceased animals from the roadside zoo attraction during a raid for animal cruelty…