John Eastman, a University of Colorado Boulder visiting professor, is looking to sue CU for nearly $1.9 million after he was stripped of most of his job duties following his speech at President Donald Trump’s Washington, D.C., rally on Jan. 6 prior to the Capitol insurrection.

Eastman filed a legal claim Thursday alleging breach of contract and defamation, saying CU Boulder and its leaders have “discriminated against Dr. Eastman on the basis of his political affiliation and political philosophy,” in violation of the university’s anti-discrimination policies.

The claim said Eastman will seek $1.85 million for 10 years of future salary he claims he can’t earn due to “reputational harm” and $19,835 leftover in his CU research account. The legal claim is a statutory prerequisite before Eastman can file a lawsuit.

Eastman was hired as a visiting conservative scholar at the Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization to teach two classes each semester from August 2020 to May 2021. In January 2021 following the rally, Eastman’s classes were cancelled, with university leaders citing low enrollment.

CU chancellor condemns but refuses to fire conservative scholar who spoke at D.C. rally

Eastman claims that other lectures and seminars currently held at CU Boulder’s College of Arts and Sciences have enrollments at or below his class enrollments and that his classes were canceled as a direct result of his speech.

“University officials and others have accused me of advocating conspiracy theories, abandoning fidelity to the truth with baseless allegations, of undermining the Constitution and confidence in the rule of law,” Eastman said in a statement from February. “No one bothered to reach out to me before hand to seek an explanation or verification of my evidence.”

During his Jan. 6 speech, Eastman spread unproven claims of widespread election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. And, the day before the rally, Eastman argued with Vice President Mike Pence, telling him he had the power to block Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory, as reported by the New York Times.

University leaders including CU Chancellor Philip DiStefano, Law School Dean James Anaya and Benson Center Director Daniel Jacobson released statements in the days following the rally, condemning Eastman for his involvement and remarks.

“Those who fanned the flames of disinformation and distrust, contributing to this mob, will live forever under history’s eye. That includes … John Eastman,” DiStefano said. “His continued advocacy of conspiracy theories is repugnant, and he will bear the shame for his role in undermining confidence in the rule of law.”

In his statement, DiStefano declined to fire Eastman but said he “has embarrassed our institution” and “has contributed nothing of value to support the ideals of either the Benson Center or CU Boulder.”

Following Eastman’s rally speech, the university also revoked his public speaking and representation duties at the Benson Center but allowed him to perform scholarship for the remainder of his contract, continuing to pay Eastman his $185,000 salary.

In addition to the rally, Eastman was previously condemned by CU leaders for writing an essay questioning if Kamala Harris could be vice president since her parents weren’t born in the U.S. and representing Trump in a lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to block states from finalizing Biden’s electoral victory.