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Federal Trial Scheduled in Former Sheriff David Clarke's Interaction with Airplane Passenger

SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES
Former Milwaukee County sheriff David Clarke

A federal judge determined on Friday that Daniel Black can pursue a claim that former Milwaukee County sheriff David Clarke made a retaliatory threat against Black on social media, which Black says was meant to deter free speech.

The claim involves an incident in January of 2017. That's when Black boarded an airplane bound for Milwaukee. As he made his way to his seat, he noticed Clarke was a fellow passenger. Black says he shook his head at Clarke, who was wearing Dallas Cowboys apparel.

When the plane arrived in Milwaukee, Black was met by sheriff's department deputies who questioned him. Later, when Black complained about Clarke having the deputies detain him, Clarke responded on social media, calling Black a "snowflake," and saying: "if Sheriff Clarke were to really harass you, you wouldn't be around to whine about it."

On Friday, a federal judge dismissed Black's claims related to an unconstitutional search and seizure, as well as due process.

A trial over Black's claim that Clarke attempted to deter free speech has been scheduled for Jan. 22.

Ann-Elise is WUWM's news director.