![[image]](https://WFMJ.images.worldnow.com/images/26158925_G.png)
Trumbull Commissioner Niki Frenchko is renewing her call for a special prosecutor to be appointed to investigate missing text messages related to her July 2022 arrest.
Frenchko was originally charged with disrupting a lawful meeting, but the case was dismissed, and a federal judge later ruled that the arrest violated her constitutional rights.
The judge ordered Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa and Sheriff Paul Monroe to preserve text messages between the two, but those texts were deleted.
Frenchko gave a written statement to the Trumbull County sheriff's office, accusing Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa and Sheriff Paul Monroe of tampering with evidence after texts between the two men were deleted.
“Personal text messages, and all text messages among certain parties as part of that order by the judge that they were reminded to preserve also by the prosecutor's office. And they didn’t provide those things because they were missing,” said Frenchko.
Frenchko claims there's a conflict of interest involved and said a fair investigation at the local level isn't possible.
“I believe already that there is an effort by Paul Monroe’s Sheriff Department, by Warren City Police Department where Mauro Cantalamessa's brother is the law director, and by the prosecutor's office to interfere with justice to be served,” said Frenchko.
If a special prosecutor isn't granted, Frenchko said she won't stop there.
“There are a couple things I could do. And one of them, and I have already done this, is talk to legal council about them filing something to request a special prosecutor. The other thing is filing an affidavit,” said Frenchko.
21 news reached out to the Trumbull County Prosecutor's office multiple times to see if he plans to ask for a special prosecutor for the case, but did not get a response.
RELATED COVERAGE