A litany of personal attacks has enveloped the city of Henderson, and elected officials are coming forward to explain why distrust has taken over a part of city hall.

On Jan. 7, the law firm Pisanelli Bice served a cease and desist to Councilwoman Carrie Cox on behalf of Mayor Michelle Romero. The purpose: to stop the spread of alleged rumors of an extra-marital affair, according to a copy of the letter 8 News Now obtained.

“The only plausible purpose that you could have for broadcasting such cruel and despicable statements is to intentionally inflict injury on the mayor, her family and others,” Jordan Smith, a partner with Pisanelli Bice, wrote in the letter.

The cease and desist does not name the person involved in the “spurious rumors.”

In response, the law firm Marquis Aurbach disputed the claim Cox was spreading rumors, citing lack of evidence and describing the cease and desist as vague and nondescript.

“Your client’s demand is utterly devoid of any specific statements or identified credible sources supporting a claim of defamation and which would make your demand for retraction futile,” Brian Hardy, a lawyer with Marquis Aurback, wrote. “Simply put, without knowing what was specifically said, when it was said and to whom the statements were made, my client has no way of addressing the allegations of your client.”

Hardy wrote the claims against Cox require her to find out more about the rumors.

“These claims necessitate and would entitle Councilwoman Cox to pursue discovery into every facet of the alleged underlying truth: whether an extramarital affair has occurred,” he wrote.

In September 2024, Cox allegedly attended a meeting with the other members of the Southern Hills Republican Women (SHRW) club. A member of that group wrote to Romero, saying Cox was telling attendees about the alleged affair, according to the email provided to 8 News Now.

“The conversation disturbed [a member] because she couldn’t understand why she was telling her,” the member wrote. “I told [the member] to ignore the gossip and that it was simply what it is: ‘GOSSIP.’”

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