They speculate the punishment may have been a form of political retaliation for his rebellious views.

Burke sued the city, arguing that the move was political retaliation.

This Government of the people will not indulge in political retaliation of any kind.

Union leaders assert that those stepped-up efforts are nothing more than crude political retaliation.

"This is nothing but political retaliation by the acting governor as a way to bully someone onto the board."

Of late, several have asked for refugee status, saying they feared political retaliation if they were sent home.

But union leaders assert that those increased efforts are nothing more than crude political retaliation.

"So long as the threat is limited to political retaliation," he said, "it's protected speech."

There is a stench of political retaliation about this case.

He said economic or political retaliation was a possibility.