(Legal Newsline) – A Pennsylvania woman and Republican National Convention delegate is suing Delaware County and law enforcement officers after she was removed from a polling place in 2024.
Vallerie Biancaniello filed her lawsuit Sept. 18 in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, nearly two years after her arrest during early voting made waves, including a post on X from then-RNC chairman Michael Whatley that included video.
Biancaniello says she was simply encouraging voters to stay in line despite warnings from election staff that the wait could be two hours long and not engaging in any support for President Donald Trump. Eventually though, a voter accused her of electioneering, drawing the attention of police.
She says an unknown officer and Officer Christine McCullough “subjectively did not like and/or did not approve of Plaintiff’s presence and/or the content of her speech” at the Government Center in Media.
Sergeant Jerry Rhome arrested her in front of voters, and Biancaniello was charged with disorderly conduct.
“Multiple security videos… show that at all time material and relevant to the allegations in this complaint, the scene in the lobby area was peaceful and non-disruptive, until such time as Defendants… publicly arrested Plaintiff,” the suit says.
The incident generated media coverage thanks to allegations of voter suppression by Whatley. Biancaniello says she was subjected to public “vilification” on social media posts accusing her of electioneering.
The disorderly conduct charge was ultimately dropped, and now she is alleging her civil rights were violated. The lawsuit makes free speech, unlawful search and seizure and false imprisonment claims.
It also says the county failed to adequately train and supervise police officers regarding the First Amendment and the disorderly conduct statute. Biancaniello is represented by Michael Davey of Eckell Sparks in Media.
“The public nature of the arrest subjected Plaintiff to stigma and humiliation that cannot be undone,” the suit says.