Former Prosecutor Sues Jefferson County Executive, Insists Firing was Political

Daniel James of Imperial is a Democrat. A prominent one, in fact, in Jefferson County -- he's the committeeman for the party in his township, and ran as a Dem for circuit judge several years ago.

Until recently, however, his main job was not prima facie political: Since 2006, he was county's municipal prosecutor. That position is a "merit" position, i.e., political activity can't be a reason for termination, as stipulated in the county charter. 

But now James is suing the conservative county executive, Ken Waller, in federal court, for firing him. Waller feared that James wouldn't "protect him politically," the suit says. (It also says Waller is in the Tea Party; we're not sure if that's technically true, although he's definitely spoken at a Tea Party rally.)

Read the full lawsuit after the jump.
James v Waller et al