<p>Ald. Jim Gardiner is suing the city and various ethics and accountability agencies, arguing that previous investigations and fines leveled against him were aimed at damaging his political viability.</p><p>The suit accuses the city, the Chicago Board of Ethics, Office of the Inspector General and former Inspector General Deborah Witzburg of “acting with profound malice, fabricating a case, suppressing evidence, and intentionally using false testimony in a concerted effort to destroy Alderman Gardiner's career," according to a statement from his attorney, Craig D. Tobin.</p><p>Among the allegations in the lawsuit are that the agencies withheld and destroyed evidence that would have cleared Gardiner from accusations that he denied services to constituents and obtained police records of one constituent to retaliate against them.</p><p>"This lawsuit is about holding those in power accountable for weaponizing city agencies and violating due process to attack a political critic,” Tobin said.