An associate professor is suing Washington State University (WSU), claiming the school violated her First Amendment rights after she testified about COVID-19 vaccines at a roundtable hosted by Republican Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson.
The Silent Majority Foundation, a nonprofit based in Pasco, Washington, filed the lawsuit against WSU on behalf of Dr. Renata Moon in September, according to the plaintiff’s Substack. Moon said she has been an associate professor at WSU’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine (ESFCOM) since 2017. (RELATED: Former CDC Director Calls For Acknowledgment Of ‘Significant Side Effects’ From COVID Vaccine)
After testifying at the senator’s 2022 roundtable on COVID vaccines for children, staff and leadership at ESFCOM investigated Moon, who also claims her contract was not renewed, according to the lawsuit.
Moon’s supervisor later filed a complaint to the Washington Medical Commission (WMC), according to the documents.
“This introduced a cascade of events, beginning with an investigation by the WMC and continuing with the loss of jobs based on this investigation and the investigations that emanated from ESFCOM,” the documents read.
“A medical professional is not required to agree with any government agency, including the Washington Medical Commission,” according to a Silent Majority Foundation press release on the WMC investigation. “A medical professional has the obligation to put the well-being of his or her patients before any government-imposed orthodoxy or narrative.” (RELATED: Kansas AG Kris Kobach Sues Pfizer Alleging Covid Vaccine Misinformation)
“We are looking at extending the defendant’s opportunity to answer until early December,” Director and General Counsel of the Silent Majority Foundation Pete Serrano told the Caller. Serrano is also the mayor of Pasco and a Republican candidate for Washington attorney general, according to the Tri-City Herald.
Some students complained in 2021 about Dr. Moon’s views regarding “race and gender discrimination” and the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines, according to the lawsuit. The suit claims these complaints led to her removal “without due process.”
Moon received positive student evaluations for the 2019-2020 school year and was not punished for her few negative reviews, according to the documents.
The lawsuit claims the university violated not only Moon’s First Amendment rights but also infringed on her Fourteenth Amendment rights to equal protection and due process.
The lawsuit references a 2021 email from Jeff Haney, chair of the Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences. The email also labeled some of Moon’s statements as examples of “bias” and “microaggressions.” (RELATED: Elite Universities Ranked Lowest For Free Speech, Report Finds)
The statements cited include “I don’t believe in the concept of white privilege” and “Sexism is far worse than racism.” The email also mentioned Moon’s remarks on COVID protocols, including, “If people are at risk, then they should wear masks.”
Some students objected to this comment, believing it was unfair to “put the burden on those at risk,” according to the lawsuit.
The WMC opened an investigation into Dr. Moon in 2023, despite the fact her Washington medical license had lapsed, the document states.
The WMC sent her a Letter of Cooperation in 2023 based on Haney’s complaint, to which Moon responded. However, the lawsuit claims the WMC later informed her that the case had been closed due to her expired license, which resulted from her leaving the state. (RELATED: Harris Won’t Need A Ministry Of Truth To Crack Down On Speech)
“The mere fact that WMC investigated Dr. Moon has made it more difficult for her to renew hospital privileges and apply for new jobs,” the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit requests the renewal of Dr. Moon’s faculty contract, the restoration of her pension and the removal of references to her removal and contract non-renewal from her personal file. It also seeks the retraction of the WMC’s complaint, along with punitive damages and additional relief for Moon.
