DES MOINES — A jury found Monday that former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and a staffer discriminated against the state’s then-commissioner of workers compensation in 2011 because he’s gay and awarded the ex-official $1.5 million.

Polk County jurors found that Chris Godfrey proved not only discrimination, but also retaliation in the form of a pay cut.

“The jury heard my sexual orientation was clearly a motivating factor,” Godfrey said. “This is a win for me, and it’s a win for the entire gay community in Iowa. It shows that we have sexual orientation in the Civil Rights Act in Iowa for a reason and nobody, not even Terry Branstad, is above that law.”

Branstad, a Republican who is now the U.S. ambassador to China, denied knowing that Godfrey was gay when he asked for his resignation. He returned from Beijing to Iowa for one day last month to testify.

On Monday, Branstad’s attorney directed reporters to the office of the current governor, also a Republican, for comment.

“We are disappointed in the verdict and are consulting with our attorneys,” said Pat Garrett, the spokesman for Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Godfrey, a Democrat, sued Branstad and several members of his staff and Cabinet in 2012. The lawsuit initially included Reynolds, but she was dropped from the case before it went to trial, as were several others.

Remaining as defendants were the state, Branstad, former Branstad legal counsel Brenna Findley and former Branstad chief of staff Jeff Boeyink.

Boeyink is the only remaining named defendant that the jury did not hold responsible.

Godfrey, who couldn’t be fired under a provision in Iowa law intending his six-year term to be insulated from politics, said Branstad pressured him to resign by cutting his salary by more than a third.

The money awarded to Godfrey will be paid by Iowa taxpayers.

For the discrimination and retaliation claims, the jury awarded Godfrey $400,000 for past emotional distress and $100,000 for future emotional damages, said Godfrey’s attorney, Roxanne Conlin.

The jury also found that Godfrey was denied due process rights by Branstad, Findley and the state. Jurors awarded him $800,000 for past emotional distress and $200,000 for future emotional distress in that matter.

The verdict could be appealed.

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