Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder filed a federal lawsuit last Friday accusing Virginia Commonwealth University President Michael Rao and Chief Audit and Compliance Executive Suzanne Milton of retaliating against him by launching a baseless investigation into the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.

The suit claims the investigation, conducted by the Husch Blackwell law firm and focused on allegations around the School’s work environment, violated Wilder’s legal and civil rights.

The probe began in March, the same month former Wilder School professor William Leighty said he was fired without explanation. Leighty said his dismissal came Wilder days after he declined to ask a suggested question during a virtual Q&A with Richmond Mayor Danny Avula hosted by the Wilder School.

“Feeling it would be rude to trap our esteemed guest with a ‘gotcha’ question I ignored it,” Leighty wrote in a social media post. “Multiple staff using multiple communication methods, began urging me to ‘ask the VCU question.’”

Leighty shared a text message attributing the question — which involved legal disputes between Richmond, VCU and the Virginia General Assembly over a failed redevelopment plan — to Wilder but requested it be asked anonymously.

The lawsuit includes a summary of June communications between Wilder and Milton. Wilder claims Milton refused to clarify the investigation’s scope or identify the sources of allegations while pressuring him to participate in an interview with Husch Blackwell attorneys.

Wilder’s suit also claims Rao directed “VCU officials and other high-ranking individuals” to not engage with him, and that the university’s actions are in response to his ongoing criticism of their operations and have damaged his public service record and reputation.

“Rao and Milton … initiated and sustained baseless investigations of Plaintiff’s conduct in retaliation for his protected speech and public criticism of VCU leadership,” Wilder’s suit reads.

When reached for a comment, a VCU spokesperson said the university “would not discuss a legal matter.”

The lawsuit adds to ongoing tension between Wilder and VCU, including a 2022 federal suit he filed against university leaders over their handling of a former employee who allegedly sent threatening text messages. Wilder accused the university of failing to take appropriate action and alleged it engaged in discrimination and retaliation. He later voluntarily dismissed that suit without a public explanation.