Liberties Union of Illinois, filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Peoria, Ardis, and several city employees, claiming violation of the First Amendment and Fourth Amendment. Ardis responded with a press conference on June 12, in which he said the controversy "caused harm to our great city and serious threats against me and my family" and that "I will protect my rights and the rights of my family at all costs. I am exploring false light and defamation as well as other actions against those responsible for the placing and hosting of the libelous comments." On September 2, 2015, it was announced that the lawsuit was settled with $125,000 being awarded to Daniel. The Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression gave Ardis one of its annual Jefferson Muzzle Awards for "the past year’s most outrageous and ridiculous affronts to free speech and press", declaring that he had "abus[ed] the power of his office to intimidate and silence a harmless parodist". Electoral history City Council Mayoral References Living people Illinois State University alumni Illinois Republicans Mayors of Peoria, Illinois 21st-century American politicians Peoria, Illinois City Council members 1959 births