“Comments regarding elected officials, as well as public officials and events surrounding them is firmly protected by the first amendment of the United States Constitution. Clearly, sources that report misconduct and events are further protected. As being a public official, Judge Gillam’s actions, both current and past, will be on the table for discussion and will be during the course and scope of this suit,” Klein said.

“I see Jefferson County is one of the most corrupt counties in Texas. This suit is an attempt to silence one of the only few sources that brings the story to you the reader and listener to Southeast Texas.”

Gillam is suing Klein for defamation and libel. According to the Justice of the Peace, he was working alone in his office on the night in which Klein said he engaged in sexual misconduct at the courthouse.

“(Gillam) was doing paperwork in his office after hours and could not find computer disks,” Gillam’s court petition filed Wednesday reads. “He called his court coordinator at home and asked if she knew where the disks were located. She arrived at the courthouse, located the disks and placed them upon (Gillam’s) desk.”

Shortly after, Gillam completed his work and left the courthouse, according to court records.

“The coordinator realized she was alone at the courthouse and became uncomfortable,” the petition continues. As she attempted to leave the courthouse for the night, the coordinator reportedly discovered that the “exterior door to the courthouse was locked and she did not have a key” to unlock the door.

“She was therefore trapped inside the courthouse without a key to get out and did not have a cell phone,” the petition reads. “She started banging on the door to get (Gillam’s) attention as he approached his vehicle.”

Gillam reportedly heard the knocks and returned to the door to let his court coordinator outside. During the course of her “banging on the door,” the petition says the coordinator cracked the glass.

“The coordinator paid for the cost of the repairs out of her own pocket,” the petition concludes.

According to court documents, the courthouse surveillance video shows no third party present during this encounter between Gillam and his court coordinator.