Tucson Urges Federal Judge to Dismiss Ex-Senator Wadsack’s Lawsuit

Former State Senator Justine Wadsack has filed an $8 million lawsuit against the Tucson Police Department, alleging civil rights violations stemming from a traffic stop. Wadsack contends that the stop, which occurred on March 15, 2024, was politically motivated, aimed at undermining her reelection bid.

In response, attorney Joseph Williams, representing Tucson, has moved to dismiss the case, describing Wadsack’s claims as baseless. He asserts that the traffic stop was routine and justified.

During the stop, Officer Ryder Schrage clocked Wadsack driving at 71 mph in a 35 mph zone. Williams emphasized that the officer’s observations constituted probable cause for the traffic stop. According to Williams, Wadsack’s own admission about being in a hurry further supports the lawfulness of the stop.

Wadsack argues that the citation she received for speeding and failure to provide insurance was part of a conspiracy against her. This claim is bolstered by allegations of police leaks to the media, which she believes damaged her reputation during the 2024 GOP primary, ultimately leading to her loss to Vince Leach.

Williams counters that the timeline undermines Wadsack’s accusations. He indicated that her supposed investigation of the police occurred months after the traffic incident, making any claims of retaliation implausible. Additionally, he stated that Wadsack has not demonstrated a lack of equal protection under the law.

Further arguing against Wadsack’s claims, Williams highlighted that no evidence supports her assertion that she was targeted due to her gender or political affiliations. He noted that the behavior of the media and public in response to the incident does not fall under the police’s jurisdiction.

Wadsack’s allegations also extend to the slant of broader political actions. Two legislative proposals that she introduced, aimed at modifying voting processes, are alleged by her attorney to have triggered this political backlash. However, Williams argued that such political activities do not warrant infringement of civil rights protections.

As the legal proceedings unfold, no date has been set for a hearing on whether the case will proceed to trial. The outcome could have significant implications for how political figures interact with law enforcement in the context of legislative actions.