SPOKANE, Wash – Former Washington lawmaker and controversial leader Matt Shea wants the City of Spokane to pay him $24 million as part of the fallout from a religious rally in 2023.
On August 20 of that year, Shea appeared on stage with then-mayor Nadine Woodward as they prayed for victims of the wildfires that were raging in Spokane County.
The rally and Woodward’s appearance drew criticism because of Shea’s previous actions and involvement of Christian nationalist Sean Feucht.
Woodward later disavowed Shea, saying he turned a prayer service into a political event.
Earlier this year, Woodward also filed a claim for damages against the city, saying that by denouncing her appearance at the event, the city council interfered with her bid for re-election.
Three months after the rally, voters chose Lisa Brown to replace Woodward as mayor.
In his filing this week, Shea criticized the council’s condemnation of the event.
He said it was retaliation against him for exercising his constitutionally protected right to free speech.
“The Resolution also violates the Establishment clause through its treatment of Christianity,” he wrote.
He referenced the resolution calling him a “domestic terrorist” which he says is something for which he was never charged.
An investigation of Shea while he served in the Washington House of Representatives accused Shea of engaging in domestic terrorism.
Feucht is suing Spokane in federal court over the fallout from the rally.
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