A federal appeals court has tossed out a First Amendment lawsuit filed by residents protesting the Iraq War during a 2007 New Mexico visit by then-President George W. Bush.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ordered Tuesday that the lawsuit against a U.S. Secret Service agent and two Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies be thrown out and said the agents did not personally discriminate against the protesters.
The lawsuit stems from a Bush visit to Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Mayor Larry Abraham's house in August 2007 to help raise money for then-U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici.
Authorities kept around 70 anti-Bush protesters more than 150 yards away from Abraham's house, but allowed a smaller group of Bush supporters to wave flags and cheer across the street from the home.