Judge orders TRO against Tupola’s ousted GOP critic
Star-Adv May 26, 2018 (excerpts)
…A Honolulu district judge Friday granted gubernatorial candidate state Rep. Andria Tupola an injunction against harassment, restraining the leader of a conservative Republican splinter group from contacting, threatening or harassing her.
Tupola sought the petition against Eric Ryan, president of the Hawaii Republic Assembly, after she accused him of harassment and cyberbullying. She claimed Ryan’s social media posts and advertisements about her incited death threats from other people.
Ryan was expelled Thursday from the Republican Party of Hawaii by a 19-12 vote of its full state committee….
This was Tupola’s third petition filed against Ryan. Judge Michael Tanigawa denied the first petition April 12. The second was denied April 16 by Judge Hilary Gangnes, who presided over Friday’s hearing.
Gangnes’ order, which both parties agreed upon, is in effect for three years. She ordered Ryan to refrain from contacting Tupola by telephone, cellphone, mail, email, texts and social networking sites.
The judge noted the case involves the intersection of First Amendment free speech rights involving political issues, which makes it different from the average temporary restraining order case, but said “the statute doesn’t except politicians from its protection.”
She said there is no legitimate purpose to posting photographs and making allegations about her family members who are not running for political office. She concluded that the purpose was to cause Tupola emotional distress, “with apparently no factual basis.” ….
Tupola’s attorney, Michael Green, in his closing comments said state law on harassment gives politicians the same protections as other people…..
Ryan repeatedly responded with snide remarks and in a provocative manner.
When Green asked Ryan whether Tupola’s statement was a true statement in the petition where she said she feels “afraid and helpless,” Ryan said, “I think she’s full of it.”
“Full of what? Green asked.
“Full of the same stuff you’re full of,” Ryan said….
Green called what Ryan did to Aaron Wilson, executive director of the Republican Party of Hawaii, “evilness” by sending to his boss information and a photo that he was a pedophile, despite knowing it was false. “It shows his lack of credibility,” he said…..
read … About what Hawaii Republicans are Focused on While Democrats run in Elections
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