AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. Paul LePage's lawyer says the court should dismiss a lawsuit House Speaker Mark Eves filed against LePage because the dispute may only be resolved by voters, not the courts.
The lawsuit accuses the Republican governor of violating the rights of Eves, a Democrat, by pressuring a charter school into rescinding a job offer. Eves said the governor "blackmailed'' the school by threatening to withhold state funds if it hired Eves as president.
LePage in January filed a motion in federal court to dismiss the lawsuit. The governor's lawyer on Wednesday filed a rebuttal to Eves' arguments that LePage is using state money to entice political loyalty and punish his enemies.
LePage lawyer Patrick Strawbridge said that Maine law gives the governor immunity over statements about the state budget.