Former NFL superstar turned first amendment auditor Warren Sapp filed suit against the City of Tampa, Florida, on Wednesday charging the city violating his first and fourteenth amendment rights by removing him from a public City Council meeting on September 17, 2026.
Sapp’s filing describes the situation:
On September 17, 2026, the Tampa City Council was conducting a public meeting at Tampa City Hall City Council meetings are governmental proceedings at which members of the public are permitted to attend, observe, petition their government, and, subject to reasonable procedural rules, participate in public comment.
The City itself expressly provides procedures through which members of the public may attend and participate in City Council meetings. On September 17, 2026, Plaintiff entered Tampa City Hall. Plaintiff was present at City Hall for a lawful purpose. Specifically, Plaintiff stated that he was present to obtain paperwork.
Plaintiff entered an office located near the City Council chambers. Plaintiff was not arrested upon entering City Hall. Nor was Plaintiff arrested upon entering the nearby office. Nevertheless, Plaintiff’s presence prompted an extraordinary response from City officials.
During the City Council meeting, Council Chair Alan Clendenin interrupted the governmental proceedings. Chair Clendenin caused or directed the doors to the City Council chambers to be locked. Members of the public attending the City Council meeting were temporarily prevented from freely entering or exiting the chambers. The meeting was thereafter interrupted again.
City officials determined that Plaintiff was “out of order” and characterized Plaintiff as having created a “disturbance.” Plaintiff was then ordered to leave City Hall. The City requested that Plaintiff be trespassed from the premises for the remainder of the day.
Tampa Police Department officers responded to City Hall at the City’s request. Those officers were acting under color of state law and pursuant to the request and direction of City officials. Tampa Police officers directed Plaintiff to leave City Hall. According to the City’s public account of the incident, Plaintiff initially refused to leave. Plaintiff was nevertheless not arrested.
The footballer turned first amendment auditor and YouTube influencer is claiming violations under the first and fourteenth amendments.
Sapp is seeking that the court:
Declare that Defendant’s retaliation against Plaintiff violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution;
Award Plaintiff compensatory damages in an amount to be determined by the jury;
Award Plaintiff nominal damages for the deprivation of his constitutional rights;
Award Plaintiff reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988;
Award pre-judgment and post-judgment interest as permitted by law;
Grant such declaratory, injunctive, and other equitable relief as the Court determines appropriate;
Award such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.
According to his Wikipedia page Sapp played 13 seasons in the National Football League and was made famous for his time playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sapp was a Super Bowl champion and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of fame in 2013.
Sapp has had a troubled past since leaving the NFL, as he was arrested for domestic battery in 2010 and arrested on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute and assault in 2015. Both cases were eventually dropped.
Turning to first amendment auditing in the past few years, Sapp has been known to associate with Chuck Bronson when he performs Florida based audits.
The YouTube Influencer has demanded a jury trial and is represented by Anthony F. Sabatini and Gavin B. Rollins of the Sabatini Law Firm, P.A.
This is a breaking news story.
