Here's the next chapter in the ongoing saga of Paul LePage: a lawsuit alleging that the Governor blackmailed a school for disadvantaged children has been filed in federal court by the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.

According to the Bangor Daily News, Speaker Mark Eves filed a federal lawsuit today against Governor Paul LePage for blackmail.

Eves has claimed that the Governor threatened to withhold funding from the school unless they fired him.

The governor’s actions clearly violate the First Amendment right of every Maine citizen to have their legislator speak freely and independently without the threat of the governor. The time has come; Somebody has to stand up to say enough.”

Within hours of today's press conference and the filing of the federal lawsuit, thousands of Mainers spoke in support of the Speaker and the return to civility and respect in Maine politics at events in Bangor, Portland, and online. All things considered, the Governor's supporters were largely silent in the wake of today's news.

Politico recently ran a national magazine piece titled "America's Craziest Governor Goes Off The Rails" about LePage's actions against the Speaker and his recent antics. Author Colin Woodard even wondered if the Governor is "playing with a full deck."

Facebook groups, like "I Stand with Mark Eves" cropped up online today too:

Speaker of the Maine House Mark Eves has filed a federal suit against Gov. Paul LePage for blackmailing a private,...

Posted by I Stand With Mark Eves on Thursday, July 30, 2015

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