Maine Lawmaker Drops Lawsuit After Voting Rights Restored

Maine Republican state Representative Laurel Libby has agreed to drop her lawsuit against the state Legislature after her voting and speaking rights were restored following a censure related to her social media post about a transgender athlete competing in girls' sports. The Democratic-controlled Maine House had censured Libby in February for posting the athlete's name and photo without an apology, stripping her of key legislative privileges. Libby argued the censure violated her First Amendment rights and disenfranchised her constituents. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a preliminary injunction in May restoring her voting rights, and in June, the Maine House voted overwhelmingly to reinstate her full privileges. Both Libby and the state's attorney general now agree the lawsuit is moot since the restrictions have been lifted, though Libby did not apologize as requested. The case highlights ongoing tensions around transgender athletes' participation in sports, with former President Donald Trump publicly criticizing Maine's policies and threatening to withhold federal funds over the issue.