Former Governor Kitzhaber Subject of Civil Rights Suit

A federal civil rights lawsuit filed Friday charges former Governor John Kitzhaber and other state officials with violating the civil rights of his former communications director.

Nkenge Harmon Johnson charges she was fired for speaking out about what "believed to be myriad improprities involving the Governor's re-election campaign team and his official staff."

She says that these included "directing or permitting of politicial activities by public employees while on the job."

Harmon Johnson also names as defendants Mike Bonetto, who was Kitzhaber's chief of staff, Cylvia Hayes, his fiancee, and James Williams who is an agent with the Intelligence Unit of the Oregon Department of Justice's Criminal Justice Division.

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Williams is named in the suit for his role in an investigation of Harmon Johnson's husband, Erious, who is the top civil rights director at the Oregon department of Justice.

The suit alleges that Williams unfairly targeted Johnson for a threat assessment after noticing a reference to #blacklivesmatter in his Twitter feed.

According to the suit, Harmon Johnson was told by Kitzhaber and Bonetto to "manage communications, appearances and events for" Hayes related to Kitzhaber's reelection campaign, state business, and in addition Hayes's personal interests beyond her portfolio as a volunteer Senior Policy Advisor.

"Employees of the governor’s office often reported to Plaintiff that they were being asked to do work to book Defendant Hayes at events that were not related to state business."

Harmon Johnson balked at doing work that was campaign-related as opposed to state work.

Hayes sent her an email saying that Harmon Johnson had been "condescending" during a staff meeting.

Harmon Johnson was soon asked to resign, she says. When she refused, she was fired.

Soon after, Kitzhaber officials said that Harmon Johnson had been let go for "performance reasons."

Kitzhaber resigned one month into his fourth term amidst a still-ongoing federal investigation into whether he abused his power to enrich himself and Hayes.