Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder filed a federal lawsuit Friday against Virginia Commonwealth University administrators, accusing the school of launching a “malicious, unsubstantiated and retaliatory” investigation into him.
Mr. Wilder, a professor at VCU’s Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs that was named after him, claims the university’s investigation seeking to pin a hostile work environment on him is in response to a previous federal lawsuit he brought against the college that was later settled.
The former governor’s lawsuit, which was first obtained by WRIC-TV, said VCU began investigating Mr. Wilder in March over “threatening conduct, abuse and misuse of university resources.”
Mr. Wilder, 94, further claims VCU President Michael Rao defamed him to the college’s Board of Visitors and other university officials. Mr. Rao is also accused of persuading administrators to give Mr. Wilder the cold shoulder to isolate him from administrators and faculty.
Mr. Wilder claimed the investigation was centered around accusations he had a threatening relationship with his colleagues and an abusive relationship with Wilder School Dean Susan Gooden.
But Mr. Wilder said VCU’s Chief Audit and Compliance Executive Suzanne Milton did not share the names of complainants against him nor did she provide other details over privacy concerns.
In his lawsuit, Mr. Wilder said Mr. Rao directed Ms. Milton to withhold that information from him.
According to the filing, Mr. Rao and Ms. Milton are accused of violating the former governor’s First Amendment and due process rights, as well as defamation and retaliation under Title VI and Title VII.
