DES MOINES --- The state's compensation commissioner filed a lawsuit against Gov. Terry Branstad and members of his administration for alleged discrimination, extortion, harassment and defamation.

Christopher Godfrey is seeking more than $1 million in damages.

Branstad cut Godfrey's salary by $36,000 a year after he refused the governor's request to resign last year. Former Gov. Tom Vilsack appointed Godfrey to a six-year term in 2006. He stayed on through the Chet Culver administration.

In his lawsuit filed Wednesday in Polk County Court, Godfrey alleges members of the governor's team asked him to resign several times since Branstad took office last year. Godfrey has always refused, despite seeing his salary cut from more than $112,000 a year to $73,250, which is the minimum range for his position.

Godfrey also claims members of the administration publicly defamed him by saying he was not fulfilling the duties of his office.

Branstad's spokesman Tim Albrecht said, "Gov. Branstad does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, age, religion, gender or sexual orientation. He did not discriminate against Christopher Godfrey."

"After thorough research, and after speaking with Iowa business people on the campaign trail, Gov. Branstad concluded that a different commissioner would be better able to keep insurance premiums low for Iowa employers."

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