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Rapper Sues Cop After Free Speech Win
29 Jul
Summary
- Afroman is suing officer Brian Newland for malicious prosecution.
- The rapper seeks $25,000 for legal bills from the prior lawsuit.
- A jury previously ruled in Afroman's favor on free speech claims.
Rapper Afroman, known for his hit "Because I Got High," has initiated a new legal battle against Brian Newland, one of the Ohio police officers who previously sued him. This recent lawsuit, filed in an Ohio court, accuses Newland of malicious prosecution. Afroman contends that the prior defamation case, brought by Newland and other officers, was baseless and designed solely to harass him.
The rapper is seeking at least $25,000 to cover legal bills and other expenses incurred during the earlier proceedings. This legal maneuver comes after a March trial where a jury rejected the officers' defamation claims against Afroman. The verdict was widely regarded as a major victory for free speech.
In August 2022, deputies raided Afroman's home under suspicion of drug trafficking and kidnapping, seizing over $5,000 in cash. No charges were filed, and the money was returned. Afroman subsequently used his own surveillance footage to create music videos mocking the officers involved.
