Roxanne Mathai, a former lieutenant with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), received a $395,000 settlement after alleging wrongful termination due to her political views, and she's planning a campaign to run against Sheriff Javier Salazar, KSAT reports. Mathai contends she was fired following her presence at the January 6, 2021 Save America rally that turned into a riot at the U.S. Capitol, although she claims to have never participated in the violent insurrection and was not criminally charged in connection with the event.
The controversy began after Mathai posted photos and videos of herself in close proximity to the Capitol during the riot. According to Mathai, Sheriff Salazar made a statement after the event expressing his intention that she never set foot inside the Bexar County Jail again, a sentiment that she took issue with, particularly because her termination, she believes, was rooted in the sheriff’s interpretation of her actions as supportive of terrorism. "I would love for him to sit across from me at a table and please tell me how I am a terrorist," Mathai told KSAT.
Represented by attorney Mark Anthony Sanchez, Mathai's lawsuit against the county and Sheriff Salazar was settled for nearly $400,000, and Mathai now eyes a sheriff run, if Salazar is re-elected in November, KENS 5 has detailed. "I am going to get my mental health certificates under my belt," she said. " I am going to get my peace officer certificates and I do plan on running for sheriff."
The settlement put forth by Bexar County does not imply an admission of wrongdoing by the sheriff's office, with Salazar releasing a statement asserting, “The termination in this case was done within policy and was upheld by an arbitrator. The decision to issue a settlement was made outside the BCSO. There was no wrongdoing on the part of the administration, and I stand by our actions.” Mathai's attorney counters, positing the settlement as a triumph for constitutional rights and the protection of viewpoint diversity. “That is, you can speak your mind outside of work and associate with like-minded individuals freely without the fear of being punished when you return to work. It’s a beacon of hope. The publicity that this case generates is a message to anyone who loves liberty and freedom; your rights matter, never let them be cast aside.” Sanchez told KENS 5.
In a related twist, the assistant district attorney who managed the Mathai case for the county was terminated shortly after the settlement was made public, detailed records from KSAT showed. The reasons for the termination have not been disclosed, with Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales referring to it as a "personnel matter."
