DES MOINES – An official who is dueling Governor Terry Branstad in court – Iowa worker’s compensation commissioner Christopher Godfrey – has resigned, just as Governor Branstad wanted, but his lawsuit against the governor will continue, his lawyer says.
Roxanne Conlin, who is representing Godfrey, confirmed Tuesday that he “resigned today to take a much bigger job in [Washington] DC as Chief Judge of the Appeal Board for Federal Workers Compensation.
Branstad wanted Godfrey out after he was elected in 2010, asking him to resign. Godfrey alleges in a lawsuit that Branstad wanted him out because he is gay.
“Branstad and his staff lowered his salary by 40,000 dollars a year and defamed him in every possible way,” Conlin said Tuesday, describing how Godrey was treated after he refused to resign.
Despite the fact that Godfrey will be heading for the east coast, Conlin vowed that the $1 million lawsuit will go on. The Branstad administration has denied Godfrey’s claim.
“But what can you expect from this corrupt administration! The case will proceed,” Conlin proclaimed today. “We fully expect to win a verdict that will fully compensate Chris for the hell he has lived for more than 3 years.”
In June, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the lawsuit brought against Governor Terry Branstad and others may proceed. The court’s 5-2 decision overturned a lower court ruling that said Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds are immune to litigation. Justice David Wiggins wrote in the decision that a judge or jury should decide the case.
According to records, Godfrey was appointed to his post in 2006 by former Gov. Tom Vilsack. Former Gov. Chet Culver re-appointed Godfrey to a six-year term in 2009 and the Iowa Senate unanimously confirmed the appointment.
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