DUP MPs Ian Paisley and Sammy Wilson have launched a staunch defence of council boss Anne Donaghy, telling rival parties to "stop using her like a political punch bag".
A "campaign of harassment" has been waged against the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council chief executive, the senior politicians claimed.
It emerged last week Ms Donaghy is off work on sickness leave for stress amid a number of grievances being lodged against her.
She is also understood to have raised a number of complaints against her employers and the council is seeking legal advice, sources told Belfast Live.
Her unexpected absence follows months of controversy surrounding the council, including a contentious decision in February to temporarily remove Brexit-related staff from Larne Port.
A damning Stormont committee report criticised the "quality and credibility" of some of the council's evidence due to "several contradictions and inconsistencies".
Ms Donaghy had also faced calls to resign over a divisive letter she sent to the UK government raising her concerns about the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The letter was sent on the advice of North Antrim MP Mr Paisley, East Antrim MP Mr Wilson and DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.
The council earlier this month narrowly voted to refer itself to a public services watchdog over claims it had "misled" the MLA inquiry and "suppressed" information.
Trade union Nipsa has also launched a survey to examine allegations of "bullying and harassment" – claims strongly rejected by the council.
In a lengthy joint statement, Mr Paisley and Mr Wilson said Ms Donaghy's "record as a good leader of the council is one to be proud of".
They said: "We know from working with Anne Donaghy on a weekly basis how instrumental her leadership has been in enabling many of the excellent council staff to deliver the service which the council does across the area.
"The achievements of the council would never have been possible if she was the kind of chief executive that these backbiting, calculating, opportunistic politicians who are baying for her blood, are portraying her as."
The MPs questioned if there was "any coincidence" in grievances being raised at a time when the local authority was "implementing the instruction of the full council for staff to come back to work".
Mr Paisley and Mr Wilson also claimed issues were being raised outside of council procedures and "released to the media before there had been any chance to test them".
They said that over the years Ms Donaghy has been "relentlessly pursued by one journalist encouraged by some councillors".
The MPs claimed the "real villains are those who use their position to attack her knowing that she cannot answer in kind", adding that "if they had any decency they should lay off".
Ms Donaghy has previously said she is "apolitical" in her work and observes the Nolan principles on public standards.
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