Salaita attorneys again say U of Illinois destroyed evidence

CHICAGO (AP) — Attorneys for a professor who is suing the University of Illinois over a lost job offer have asked a federal judge to restore claims that evidence in the case was destroyed.

When U.S. District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber on Aug. 6 denied the university's motion to dismiss Steven Salaita's lawsuit, he also dismissed the evidence claim.

Salaita's attorneys argue in a motion filed Tuesday that the university's more recent release of emails in which then-Chancellor Phyllis Wise used a personal account to discuss university business back their claim. Wise mentions in an email that she was deleting them after sending. Wise has since resigned.

University officials didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The university last year rescinded Salaita's job offer over a series of anti-Israel Twitter messages.