A federal jury has determined that a Pennsylvania school district violated a teacher’s constitutional rights by falsely implicating him in the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The jury found that the Allentown School District retaliated against Jason Moorehead by suspending him and falsely claiming he was involved in the events at the Capitol building, although he was only in Washington, D.C. to attend a rally.

Despite attending the rally but not participating in the riot, Moorehead, a middle school social studies teacher, faced a suspension and a subsequent smear campaign orchestrated by individual school board members. The jury decided that the district should pay Moorehead $125,000 for economic damages and found two board members, Lisa Conover and Nancy Wilt, acted maliciously, ordering them to pay punitive damages.

The school district’s lawyer stated that they respect the jury’s verdict and are considering legal options, emphasizing their commitment to serving the community and students. While the district’s portion of damages will be covered by insurance, Conover and Wilt will be responsible for paying punitive damages. Moorehead, with 17 years of experience in the district, has not returned to teaching and awaited an apology to clear his name.

Moorehead, a conservative Republican and Trump supporter, kept his political views private during his tenure. His lawyers aim to hold the district and board members accountable, demanding a formal apology and correction of the record. The district had criticized Moorehead’s social media posts related to Jan. 6 events, deeming them insensitive. The court ruled that Moorehead’s rally attendance and social media posts were protected by the First Amendment.

Despite the jury’s verdict, Moorehead expressed a desire for further accountability from the school district to restore his reputation in the community. The ongoing legal dispute highlights the importance of upholding individuals’ rights to free speech and assembly.