MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — A former associate dean at Middle Tennessee State University is suing MTSU President Dr. Sidney McPhee and another employee after she said she was punished for "engaging in constitutionally protected speech."

The lawsuit comes nearly two months after Laura Sosh-Lightsy, a long-time employee who served as Associate Dean of Student Care and Conduct at MTSU, was terminated for social media posts she made after Charlie Kirk's murder.

In the suit, Sosh-Lightsy claims she was fired after Matthew Hurtt, a former MTSU student and Republican Party operative, and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) used their positions to pressure MTSU to retaliate against her. Sosh-Lighsty said MTSU caved to the political pressure, firing her less than four hours after she made the comments

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