Tupola seeks restraining order against Ryan for third time

A state judge has scheduled a hearing on state Rep. Andria Tupola’s petition for a temporary restraining order against fellow Hawaii Republican Party member Eric Ryan.

Ryan is calling the May 25 hearing in Honolulu District Court “Hawaii’s Trial of the Century.”

The hearing will be on Tupola’s third petition for a TRO and injunction against harassment by Ryan. The court rejected her April 12 and 16 petitions.

Tupola, as state House minority leader, is Hawaii’s highest-­ranking elected Republican. She is also running for governor. She claims that she has been a victim of verbal abuse and cyberbullying for over a year because of Ryan’s email and Facebook posts.

Ryan said he had never met Tupola and claims that his online posts are constitutionally protected political free speech.