Jefferson Davis, a conservative candidate for the Menomonee Falls School Board and one of three candidates endorsed by WisRed, has filed a defamation lawsuit in Waukesha County against two community members and an anonymous Facebook user — accusing them of deliberately publishing false and damaging accusations against him during a heated school board election.

The lawsuit, filed by attorney Kevin Scott, names Sheila Witt and Nathan Greenleaf of Menomonee Falls, as well as a third individual Davis believes is operating under the Facebook pseudonym “Danielle Walsh.” Wisconsin Right Now reached out to Witt, Greenleaf, and the Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area Facebook group for comment but received no response. The Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area group posted a response on Facebook.

What the Lawsuit Alleges

The suit paints a picture of a deliberate and coordinated effort to destroy a local candidate’s reputation through social media. (RELATED: Getting to Know Mike Hallquist: The Man Who Wants to Be Brookfield’s Next Mayor)

“This action arises from a coordinated and deliberate campaign of false accusations launched against Plaintiff during a contested election for the Menomonee Falls School Board,” the lawsuit states. “In the midst of that campaign, Defendants took to Facebook and other public online forums and began publicly accusing Plaintiff Jefferson Davis of deeply damaging misconduct, including racist behavior toward children, sexual misconduct involving minors, dishonesty toward local businesses, and other serious wrongdoing.”

Davis flatly denies every accusation. According to the lawsuit, “Plaintiff did not make racist remarks toward students, coaches, parents, or spectators. Plaintiff did not engage in sexual harassment or any form of misconduct involving minors. Plaintiff was never banned from officiating athletic contests because of sexist remarks. Plaintiff did not lie to local businesses in connection with his campaign. Yet Defendants published these accusations anyway — publicly, repeatedly, and without any legitimate basis.”

The Basketball Game Incident

The accusations stem in part from an alleged incident at a Templeton Middle School boys basketball game on December 9, 2025, during which Davis was officiating. A community group claimed Davis made a racist remark to a coach, referring to a player. Davis categorically denies the allegation.

Davis obtained a letter from the WIAA‘s executive director confirming the association had no jurisdiction over the matter, as the game involved schools that are not WIAA members. Menomonee Falls School District Superintendent David Munoz also issued a written statement on March 23, clarifying: “The School District of Menomonee Falls has no investigation, past or present, related to Jefferson Davis, including but not limited to, the WIAA or any other person or organization.”

Despite both clarifications, the lawsuit alleges the defendants continued spreading the accusations online.

‘Weaponization of False Accusations’

Davis’s lawsuit frames the case as part of a broader and deeply troubling trend of political opponents using social media to destroy the reputations of civic-minded individuals who dare to run for office.

“The conduct alleged here goes beyond mere incivility,” the suit states. “It represents the weaponization of false accusations — of racism and misconduct involving children — for political purposes. Left unchecked, such conduct creates a chilling effect on civic participation, deterring qualified and community-minded individuals from seeking public office out of fear that they, too, will be subjected to baseless and vicious attacks.”

The lawsuit specifically accuses Witt of acting with “actual malice,” alleging her statements were “motivated by her hostility toward Plaintiff’s openly conservative political views” and that “she either knew her accusations were false or acted with reckless disregard for their truth.”

On the role of social media, the lawsuit pulls no punches: “Social media has made it easier than ever to level devastating accusations against another person with the click of a button. It has also fostered a culture in which some individuals — shielded by distance, anonymity, or the perceived informality of online discourse — behave as ‘keyboard warriors,’ launching attacks they would never make face-to-face and without regard for the consequences. But there are consequences.”

Who Is Jefferson Davis?

Davis is a well-established figure in the Menomonee Falls community. He has worked as an Independent Registered Representative in insurance, investments, and retirement planning since 1990. Earlier in his career, he served as Recreation and Community Education Director for the Menomonee Falls School District and later as Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Portage. He has also served as an official at youth sporting events throughout the area for years.

In addition to WisRed, Davis has earned endorsements from Moms for Liberty and state Rep. Dan Knodl. His fellow WisRed-endorsed candidates in the Menomonee Falls School Board race are Nicole Barker and incumbent Dr. Joel Woppert, neither of whom are involved in the lawsuit.

The case is pending in Waukesha County courts.