Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry wants LSU professor punished for critical tweet

Louisiana Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry escalated his attempt to have an LSU professor punished for calling one on his aides a "flunky" on social media, sending a letter Thursday to LSU President William F. Tate IV formalizing his complaint.

Robert Mann, a tenured mass communications professor, sparked Landry's ire after Mann criticized Landry in a Tuesday tweet for sending an aide to an LSU Faculty Senate meeting where COVID-19 vaccine requirements were being discussed.

"Louisiana AG Jeff Landry sending some flunkie to the LSU Faculty Senate meeting today to read a letter attacking covid vaccines is quite the move from a guy who considers himself 'pro-life,'" Mann tweeted.

Landry responded on Twitter Wednesday, saying he spoke to Tate and asked him to discipline Mann. "This type of disrespect and dishonesty has no place in our society — especially at our flagship university by a professor. I hope LSU takes appropriate action soon."

The social media spat caught the attention of "The Chronicle of Higher Education," which published a story about the incident Thursday, and the Academic Freedom Alliance, which described Landry's actions as "a clear threat to (Mann's) academic freedom" in a letter to Tate.

Tate responded Thursday with a statement issued through the university's media spokesman: “As president of LSU, I am deeply committed to First Amendment rights. LSU is committed to free and open scholarship and the freedom to debate ideas and principles without interference.”

Landry doubled down on his criticism of Mann Thursday, sending a letter to Tate obtained by USA Today Network in a public records request.

In his letter, Landry described Mann's tweet as a "personal attack" on "a young female attorney with the Louisiana Department of Justice."

"I believe that such a personal attack, calling a female LSU undergrad and law school graduate a “flunkie,” (sic) reflects negatively on LSU," Landry wrote. "It is clear that Chair Mann’s intent was to mock, insult, or belittle this accomplished alumna. Such personal attack violates the 'Commitment to

Community' found in the LSU Faculty Handbook."

USA Today Network requested an interview with Landry, but the attorney general's spokesman said his letter spoke for itself.

Mann, who noted he served as an aide for three Louisiana U.S. senators and former Gov. Kathleen Blanco, noted Landry has been critical of social media sites that stifle free speech by banning users from their platforms.

"It sounds like, 'Free speech for me, but not for thee,'" Mann said in an interview with USA Today Network. "It's not even a close call."

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Attorney General Jeff Landry wants LSU professor punished for tweet