Former Arizona state senator Justine Wadsack wants the City of Tucson to pay her $8 million in damages after police cited her for speeding — months after the actual traffic stop. And yes, she believes the whole thing was a politically motivated conspiracy.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, stems from a March 2024 traffic stop in which Wadsack, then a sitting senator and member of the hard-right Arizona Freedom Caucus, was pulled over while driving her red Tesla. She told the officer she was “racing to get home” because her battery had only four miles left.
As a legislator in session, she was immune from receiving a ticket at the time. But three months later, after the legislative session ended, Tucson police cited her anyway — just weeks before the July primary election. That timing, Wadsack argues, was no coincidence.
She claims police and city officials conspired to destroy her reputation and cost her re-election, which she ultimately lost to Sen. Vince Leach in the 2024 Republican primary. Wadsack’s lawsuit alleges she was a victim of “political persecution,” retaliation, and even sexism.
Her claims include everything from the Tucson Police Department staging a political coup to officers intentionally leaking the story to the media to sabotage her campaign. She says the fallout led to the loss of her police union endorsement and, ultimately, her seat in the Legislature.
The city, of course, hasn’t paid her a cent. Her attorney has already withdrawn from the case “for professional considerations,” and Wadsack agreed to a diversion program, avoiding a court trial by completing a defensive driving course.
Ironically, if she had just accepted the ticket back in March instead of pulling the “I’m a state senator” card, it might never have made headlines. And it definitely wouldn’t have turned into an $8 million lawsuit over a $24,000-a-year job she no longer holds.
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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