Federal judge denies motion filed by Maine attorney against DOJ lead in Title IX lawsuit
PORTLAND (WGME) – A federal judge has denied a motion from a local attorney asking for a special prosecutor to investigate the Department of Justice's lead attorney in the lawsuit against Maine’s Department of Education.
Randy Creswell accuses DOJ Attorney Matthew Donnelly of violating the Maine Bar's rules of professional conduct by discriminating against Maine students on the basis of gender identity.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the lawsuit earlier this month, claiming Maine was violating Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls sports.
Even though the motion was denied, Creswell hopes filing it was enough to make a statement and encourage other independent attorneys across the country to file similar motions.
"Our job is to look at what's going on around us, not sit silently by, not be afraid to take the steps to file something like I did, which was completely on my own,” Creswell said. “So I looked at that complaint, I knew what the bar rules say. I determined that that's inappropriate, and the First Circuit Authority says any member of the bar can raise this issue. I did that."
Maine officials, including Governor Janet Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey, refute the claims that Maine is violating Title IX and say the state is following both state and federal law.
