Maine state Rep. Laurel Libby told Newsmax on Thursday that she has no intention of apologizing in the Maine House of Representatives for calling out a male participating in girls' sports and filed a lawsuit against state Democrats instead.
Last month, Libby posted two photos on Facebook that she said showed a high school teenager in Cumberland, Maine, who competed in a pole vault competition as a boy one year and a girl the next. Libby was censured by the Maine House of Representatives for doing so. Further, House Speaker Ryan Fecteau barred Libby from speaking or voting until she apologizes.
She filed a lawsuit in federal court on Tuesday.
"I have no plans to apologize for speaking the truth, and that's why this lawsuit is necessary. I have 9,000 constituents who have been disenfranchised by Speaker Fecteau and the Democrat majority and their unconstitutional censure," Libby said on "Finnerty."
"So we had to file. We filed this week in district court, and we're looking forward to our day in court."
One day after filing her lawsuit, all six of Maine's federal judges recused themselves from the case, citing a court employee who has a connection to the case. Libby's lawsuit has been assigned to a district court judge in Rhode Island.
"There seems to be a familial relationship that affects this case," Libby told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty. "And so the long and short is, whether it's a judge that's from Maine or a judge from Rhode Island, we're looking forward to having our day in court and ensuring that my constitutional right to free speech and my constituents' right to representation in the state House is upheld by the courts."
GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!
Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.
You need to watch NEWSMAX today.
Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!
Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now
BEST OFFER:
Sign up for NEWSMAX+ and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.
Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.
Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!
Watch NEWSMAX+ on your smartphone or home TV app.
Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!
Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.