University of Iowa College of Law. (image via law school's Web site)

A University of Iowa law professor who testified on behalf of a colleague suing the school says officials are retaliating against him by falsely suggesting he was under investigation for sexual misconduct.

Professor Mark Osiel testified Tuesday at the trial of Teresa Wagner, a Republican who says she was repeatedly passed over for teaching jobs because of her conservative views.

Osiel testified Wagner helped edit his book manuscripts and that she had great skills.

During the testimony, a state lawyer claimed Osiel recently faced a misconduct investigation after someone complained about sexual grunting noises in his office.

Osiel says the noises were him doing exercises suggested by his doctors and “there is no investigation.” He says the claim “shows how low the university will stoop in retaliating against its employees.”