The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down a petition from Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo seeking a review of a federal lawsuit filed by two businessmen who accused him of free speech violations and retaliatory tactics.

The high court’s Oct. 3 decision opens the door to a federal district court trial. Business partners William Fuller and Martin Pinilla initially filed their lawsuit in 2018, accusing Carollo of using city employees and resources in a campaign of retribution against Fuller and Pinilla that upended their rights to free speech and assembly.

“For 10 months, Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo has obliterated these fundamental rights by using the power and influence of his government office to engage in a campaign of harassment, retribution and retaliation against (the) plaintiffs,” the business partners said in their original complaint. “Carollo’s actions, designed to destroy (the) plaintiffs’ businesses and reputations, is pure political payback – targeting plaintiffs simply because they dared to support Carollo’s opponent in a runoff election, and because they filed an ethics complaint against Carollo.”