Conservative commentator asking ASU for $10M over ‘leaked’ report
Apr 3, 2019, 4:35 AM | Updated: 4:33 pm
(Facebook Photo)
(Facebook Photo)
PHOENIX — Conservative commentator Paris Dennard is asking Arizona State University for $9.9 million, claiming someone from the university intentionally leaked a 2014 report about his alleged sexual misconduct.
Dennard, 36, filed an amended notice of claim — a precursor to a lawsuit — in February and said the release of the report left him with lost wages and a damaged reputation.
“The background is that Mr. Dennard worked at ASU, specifically the McCain Institute, and there was an investigation when he worked there that did not substantiate a violation of sexual harassment that had been alleged against him,” Tony La Sota, Dennard’s attorney, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday.
The Washington Post had reported on the investigation into the allegations in August 2018, citing an anonymous university official.
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The allegations included that Dennard told a coworker that he wanted to have sex with her and made explicit gestures to her.
According to the Post, the report started that Dennard admitted to those misconduct claims but said they were a joke, and he was fired from the university.
La Sota said after Dennard left ASU, he appeared on various TV shows as a conservative commentator.
“And when somebody at ASU saw him on CNN essentially espousing conservative views, they decided they would leak confidential information about Mr. Dennard,” he said.
La Sota said after the document went public, Dennard was fired from CNN.
“Essentially, this has really had a highly negative effect on his career. The opportunities he had have dried up,” he said.
La Sota said the Arizona Board of Regents must respond by the middle of April, and if the issue is still unresolved, Dennard will be able to sue the university.
On Wednesday, a Republican state lawmaker called on the Legislature to hold hearings on the alleged leak.
“We already know that the individual who released this report has committed a crime, and we need to know whether or not the Arizona taxpayers will be liable for damages as a result of this security breach,” Rep. Mark Finchem said in a press release.
University spokesman Bret Hovell says the university cannot comment on pending or threatened litigation.
Dennard has been involved with politics since 2000 and worked for the Republican National Committee before joining the McCain Institute.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Amy Phol and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
