State Rep. Chris Caruso (D-Bridgeport) is blasting Bridgeport police for what he said was an attempt to violate his right to free speech.

Caruso said police wrongly accused him of gathering without a permit and tried to shut down a news conference he was holding on the steps of Bridgeport Superior Court Wednesday. Caruso had called the conference to announce his decision to sue over the recent election, which he calls fraudulent.

A spokesperson for Caruso said a confrontation the lawmaker had with a politically connected police officer at the scene resulted in police trying to break up the conference.

?It was clearly harassment upon Mr. Caruso's right to do what he had to do,? a spokesperson for Caruso said.

Lt. James Viadero from the Bridgeport Police Department said police can step in on state property if there is trouble. Caruso?s people said they were standing 40 feet from the courthouse door and were not causing any trouble.