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Judge allows Peoria Twitter prankster's case to go forward

Posted March 08, 2015 11:00 pm

The Associated Press

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - A federal judge has refused to dismiss a case brought by a man whose home was raided by police after he created a Twitter account to spoof Peoria's mayor.

U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm on Monday denied a motion from Peoria city officials to dismiss the lawsuit.

Jon Daniel claims the city violated his civil rights with the raid. The 29-year-old plaintiff posted raunchy messages on the fake account before Twitter suspended it. Authorities investigated, saying that Daniel wrongly impersonated a public official, Mayor Jim Ardis.

Daniel says his parody Twitter account was protected speech. He filed the lawsuit with the backing of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. On Monday, ACLU attorneys said they view the judge's ruling as a win and a necessary "first step."

FILE - In this April 22, 2014 file photo, Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis speaks at a City Council meeting in Peoria, Ill., where he defended his actions in response to a fake Twitter account set up in his name. A federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments Monday, March 9, 2015, in Peoria in the case brought Jon Daniel whose home was raided by police after he created the fake Twitter account to spoof Ardis. (AP Photo/Journal Star, Ron Johnson, File) The Associated Press

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