A former Bexar County Sheriff's lieutenant, who was axed for posting selfies during the 2021 Capitol riot, has bagged a hefty $395,000 settlement from the county, her lawyer told KSAT Investigates. Roxanne Mathai sued the county and Sheriff Javier Salazar, alleging her First Amendment rights were trampled on when she was fired after her social media stint on January 6, as per reports.

Mathai's termination came after photos surfaced of her draped in a Trump flag outside the Capitol during the infamous riot. The incident, which saw a mob breach the Capitol grounds, led to her being canned for conduct unbecoming of an officer and failure to report crimes, among other violations. Despite her presence during the chaos, Mathai was not accused of any criminal activities by law enforcement agencies, and never entered the Capitol building.

After an arbitrator sustained her firing in late 2021, Mathai took her case to federal court. In late April, a mediator confirmed the two parties had reached an agreement, effectively netting Mathai a settlement majority of which will be covered by the county's insurer, multiple associated parties confirmed.

Defending the department's stance, Sheriff Salazar expressed his support for the actions taken by his administration. "The termination in this case was done within policy and was upheld by an arbitrator. The decision to issue a settlement was made outside the BCSO," Salazar released in a statement to KSAT. "There was no wrongdoing on the part of the administration, and I stand by our actions." During his deposition, Salazar also remarked, “I believe it — that the insurrection itself was a terrorist act, and she was there in support of it," alleging that Mathai "was there in full support of a terrorist incident."

The case has highlighted complex issues regarding the balance of personal freedom and professional responsibilities. As told by KSAT in his deposition, Salazar stated that deputies are expected to report any witnessed crimes to a supervisor, even when off-duty. The backdrop of such events, juxtaposed with the political tumult of the time, continues to stir debate and question where the lines should be drawn for law enforcement personnel in expressing their political allegiances.