First Amendment Fight: Man Claims Landlord Painted Over His 'Impeach Obama' Sign and Is Threatening Eviction

Brent Kovac, the president of the Mon Valley Republican Committee, claims his First Amendment right was violated when his landlord painted over the large "Impeach Obama" sign he posted outside his Port Vue, Pa., business.

(Photo Credit: Brent Kovac)

Kovac told CBS Pittsburgh that he has rented the same office space for nine years and has put up political signs before without causing any problems. However, he claims the sign calling for President Barack Obama's impeachment was painted over within 48 hours. Kovac also says his landlord warned him that he would be evicted if he didn't take down the sign.

In an act of defiance, Kovac on Monday repainted the exact same message on the sign, several days after it had been covered.

The sign is intended to support the "Overpasses for Obama's Impeachment" campaign, though Kovac said the message is now a symbol of his free speech under the U.S. Constitution.

“If I would’ve put an ‘I love Obama’ mural up there, I would probably have every ACLU lawyer from here to San Francisco in a circle up there holding hands in front of my sign," Kovac told the CBS affiliate.

(Photo Credit: Brent Kovac)

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