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Alderman Jenna Amacher has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Tullahoma, along with the mayor and a pair of businessmen, asking for a half million dollars for what she maintains was a conspiracy to get her thrown out of office.

Amacher maintains infringement of speech, denial of due process, malicious prosecution and abuse of process. And she demands, through her Murfreesboro-based attorney Drew Justice, $500,000 in compensatory damages against defendants Mayor Ray Knowis, former City Administrator Jennifer Moody and local businessmen Scott Van Velsor and Jim Woodard.

“This lawsuit is about the abusive use of state governmental power to intimidate and harm a city lawmaker in vindictive retaliation for her speech and political views,” Amacher claimed in her opening statement in the suit that was filed before the Eastern District of the U.S. District Court in Winchester, noting she had gained a reputation for supporting conservative ideals as well as “calling out misconduct or malfeasance within the city government.”

Amacher said she would go so far as to put videos on Facebook criticizing city policies, something she said drew the ire of Moody, the former City Administrator. She also said she drew the ire of Knowis in an act of satire known as “a redneck Christmas party” in which a Confederate flag was displayed in a social media post back in 2020.

However, she maintains she got the most heat by speaking out against the Think Tullahoma 2040 Comprehensive Development Plan, which she said made her enemies. Specifically, she claims Woodard and Van Velsor were angry about the defeat of the plan. Amacher also maintains she made enemies by supporting fellow Alderman Kurt Glick, who is also suing the city, in his case, maintaining age discrimination in his former job as parks and recreation director.

Amacher maintains the issues came to a head when court papers were filed trying to remove her from office because she allegedly did not live in Tullahoma. Amacher defended that her plan was to build in Tullahoma, but a natural disaster and logistical setback delayed her and she had to stay with friends and family. She claims some of the defendants combined to have her residency investigated and recruited the help of District Attorney General Craig Northcott.

“This district attorney was another individual who hated Amacher,” the suit reads. “Partly, he hated her because he disagreed with her politics, but most of all he hated her because she had sued the district attorney’s office before for misconduct. On multiple occasions they sent the District Attorney to confront her in public, insulting her publically and calling on her to resign in the face of these difficulties.”

Amacher maintains Knowis “sent out hordes of Tullahoma police officers” to “stalk and attempt to intimidate” her. However, in the end, Amacher said the court found in her favor and she remains serving as alderman. She pointed out that even during trial she was questioned about her income taxes and sex life, further humiliating her. While prevailing in court, Amacher said defending herself cost tens of thousands of dollars.

“She also suffered a great deal of emotional distress, public ridicule and loss of enjoyment of life,” the suit maintains.

There had been no answers by the defendants to her suit posted as of press time and was not readily known if all defendants had been served.

The lawsuit can be viewed in full here: