DeSantis-Backed Board Hires DC Litigator Cooper for Disney Fight

May 22, 2023, 10:09 PM UTC

A Florida tourism board appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis has hired a Washington litigator with deep Republican ties to fight the Walt Disney Co. in court.

Chuck Cooper is representing the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in Disney’s lawsuit against the board and DeSantis, according to a recent court filing. The company alleges that DeSantis has retaliated against Disney for opposing a new state law restricting instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools.

Cooper is a veteran trial lawyer who was a Justice Department official in the Reagan administration. He represented Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions in ...

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