CINCINNATI (AP) — Federal appeals judges Tuesday rejected a lawsuit by “Joe the Plumber” that claimed his rights were violated by a state records search after he voiced public concern over taxes to then- candidate Barack Obama.
The three- judge 6th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld a lower court’s dismissal of the lawsuit. Samuel J. Wurzelbacher of the Toledo area became nationally known as “ Joe” during the 2008 presidential campaign after the muchquoted discussion about taxes with Obama.
He claims his First Amendment and privacy rights were violated by three Ohio Job and Family Services officials who were Obama supporters and who searched databases for information about him soon after the discussion. The department’s director and another official resigned and the third official was ousted in the aftermath of the searches.
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