Texas Rep. Troy Nehls Sued by Staffer Alleging Homophobic Workplace

A legislative correspondent who formerly worked for Republican Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas is suing the congressman for an alleged pattern of homophobic behavior and creating a toxic workplace.

In a lawsuit filed Friday, Alex Chadwell claimed he was forced out of his job because he is gay and suffered demeaning comments from Nehls and his chief of staff, Politico reported.

Chadwell worked in Nehl's office from January 2021 until May 2021, transferring to the lawmaker's district office in Richmond, Texas. According to Chadwell, he transferred to escape "direct anti-gay hostility" from chief of staff Robert Schroeder.

Chadwell has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against Nehl's entire office.

The suit also alleged that Schroeder made comments such as "gays go to hell" and "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." Moreover, Nehls reportedly did nothing to remedy the situation.

A spokesperson for Nehls said his office "did not, and does not discriminate based on any unlawful factor."

"There is no merit whatsoever to Mr. Chadwell's claim and the allegations of sexual orientation harassment are totally false," Matthews said Emily Matthews. "The office intends to mount a vigorous defense in this matter and is confident that it will be exonerated once all the facts are known."

Chadwell's attorney, Les Alderman, called the situation "reprehensible."

"It is particularly reprehensible that someone could be forced out of a job because of their sexuality in this day and age," said Alderman in a statement. "We should be beyond this as a society, and we will be sure that justice is served."

In an emailed statement to Politico, Schroeder said "every single aspect is a complete fabrication" of Chadwell's account, despite the lawsuit claiming that he told Chadwell that his departure was because their "lifestyles" did not align." Chadwell left in October 2023.