Lawsuit Filed Against Joe Gale Over Blocking Social Media Posts

NORRISTOWN, PA — Several constituents in Montgomery County have filed a lawsuit against Commissioner Joe Gale for blocking social media posts made on his official Facebook page.

The suit alleges Gale violated the 1st amendment rights of the residents in blocking them. It's believed to be the first suit of its kind. Gale said that former Montgomery County Judge Joe Walsh was among those suing.

"This establishment swamp creature hack is suing me for legally and rightfully blocking agitators, anarchists and agent provocateurs who like to troll and dog-pile on my personal and campaign social media accounts," Gale said.

The suit, which has been filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, calls for Gale to unblock the individuals and stop deleting their posts.

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Precendent has been set in related cases in the past, including a case last summer where a U.S. Circuit Appeals Court ruled that President Trump cannot block critics from his Twitter account. A similar lawsuit was also filed against U.S. Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.

Gale is already under fire for comments he made in the wake of the death of George Floyd, calling Black Lives Matter a hate group that had manufactured claims of racial injustice. Multiple protests drawing hundreds of supporters were held in Norristown, and in front of his home in Plymouth.

State Rep. Joe Webster has introduced a resolution to impeach Gale over the comments.

Gale said on social media that he'd received threats to his personal safety.

"Unlike Marxist Democrats and cowardly RINOs, I will not tolerate or allow the violent, radical-leftist mob to harass, intimidate or bully me," Gale said.

It's believed this is the first lawsuit of its kind brought against an elected official in Montgomery County, according to NBC Philadelphia.