The Rockingham County Commissioners have decided not to pay to defend County Attorney Patricia Conway in a possible whistleblower lawsuit.
Hours after being sworn into office in November, Conway fired assistant county attorney Jerome Blanchard, a key witness a state misconduct investigation.
Blanchard has threatened legal action, claiming the firing was payback for his involvement in the investigation into former county attorney Jim Reams.
Conway insists the firing was justified.
Reams was suspended from his office, but no charges were ever filed.
Conway can appeal the Commissioners’ decision with the 90-member county delegation.