Key Takeaways

• Followell and his attorney CJ Grisham sued Blanchard and officials after being removed from city council meetings over decorum rules.
• Mayor Ram Gomez told Blanchard to remove Grisham, escalating the conflict.
• In March 2024, Followell filed a civil rights lawsuit citing First and Fourteenth Amendment violations and the Texas Constitution.

The lawsuit involving Chief Eric Blanchard of Aransas Pass, Texas, focuses on claims of violating the First Amendment rights of a citizen named Jason Followell.

Followell and his lawyer, CJ Grisham, sued Blanchard and other officials after incidents during city council meetings related to public decorum rules.

The conflict began when both were removed from a January 2024 meeting for using inappropriate language, which went against the council’s rules.

During this meeting, Followell publicly cursed the chief of police, saying, “Chief Blanchard, you piece of sh*t!”

Followell had been an active attendee of these meetings, using his platform to challenge what he perceived as corruption and mismanagement within the city’s administration.

Man Exposes Corrupt Politicians In Court https://t.co/aMnR4LWBNC via @YouTube FAT STINKING SICK ASS CHIEF BLANCHARD AND THE OLD HEAD ASS MAYOR IS A BITCH THAT HE IS. LAWSUIT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THEY ARE PIECE OF SHIT IN THIS TOWN MEETING.

— Corey Greene (@CoreyGr70615480) September 17, 2024

A viral moment occurred when Followell stood firm when accused of disrespect, arguing that his use of language wasn’t a reason for an arrest, as the First Amendment protected it.

His attorney, Grisham, argued that “swear words do not provide probable cause for arrest” and that expressing opinions like calling officials “tyrants” was constitutionally protected speech.

The situation worsened when Mayor Ram Gomez told Blanchard to remove Grisham.

Blanchard allegedly responded, “Stop talking and just sue me,” a statement that set the stage for the legal battle that followed.

In March 2024, Followell filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city, Blanchard, and other officials, citing violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments, as well as the Texas Constitution.

The lawsuit asserts that city officials suppressed Followell’s free speech through various means, including issuing a criminal trespass warning and enforcing restrictive rules that prohibited criticism of city officials.

This case brings up important issues about how to keep order in meetings while also protecting citizens’ rights to free speech, especially when they criticize government officials.

The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the city’s rules are unconstitutional, an injunction to stop the enforcement of those rules, and monetary damages for the violation of Followell’s rights.

The case has gained attention because of its focus on protecting constitutional rights and the potential misuse of power by city officials.

Chief Blanchard, who has led the Aransas Pass Police Department since 2012, is under scrutiny for how he enforced these controversial rules and how legal measures might have been used to silence critics.

The lawsuit is still in progress, with Followell seeking legal action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which allows people to sue for civil rights violations.

Blanchard and other officials are under close watch for their actions, and the case raises broader concerns about government overreach and the restriction of constitutional rights.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Blanchard has served at the Mathis Police Department, the Portland Police Department, and the Sinton Police Department.

• He earned an associate degree from Del Mar College, a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Tarleton State University, and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice.