Diamond Reynolds, the girlfriend of the late Philando Castile, has settled a 2017 lawsuit against a mayor and former law enforcement officer who tweeted that she would use her settlement money on crack cocaine.
According to the Star Tribune, back in 2017, Reynolds received an $800,000 settlement from the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, the city of St. Anthony and the city of Roseville after a St. Anthony police officer fatally shot her boyfriend while she and her daughter were in the car. Reynolds live-streamed the entire incident.
A few days after the settlement went public, Tom McBroom, the current mayor of Elysian and former Rice County sheriff’s sergeant, tweeted, “She needs to come off County and State Aid now that she has some cash. It’ll be gone in six months on crack cocaine.”
The defamation suit sought more than $50,000 in damages. Both sides of the suit have not shared the the terms of the settlement — including whether or not Reynolds received any money from McBroom. He did issue a public apology as part of the settlement.
“I want to apologize to you for my remarks I made when you were awarded money for the loss of Mr. Castile,” he said. “From everything I have read since, he was a good person and well liked within his community and school. You lost a loved one and your daughter witnessed a violent act that no young child should ever have to witness.”
He continued, “My comments were hurtful towards someone I did not know and should never have been written. I hope one day you will forgive me for those ignorant words. I am not the person who has hate for anyone. I hope, pray and wish nothing but the best for you and your daughter moving forward.”