Donald Trump’s campaign manager charged with battery

[webfact]

Donald Trump’s campaign manager charged with battery



FORT LAUDERDALE: -- The campaign manager of US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has been charged with battery.

Corey Lewandowski (pictured above, left) is accused of grabbing and bruising the arm of reporter Michelle Fields at a Trump campaign rally in Florida on March 8.

He has been charged with simple battery, which in Florida is defined as intentionally touching or striking a person against their will. First-time offenders risk a maximum sentence of one year in prison or a $1,000-Dollar fine.

Trump’s campaign team issued a statement saying “Mr Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge. He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court. He is completely confident that he will be exonerated.”

Trump himself defended his campaign manager as a ‘very decent man’.

Fields filed a report and posted a picture on Twitter purporting to show her bruised arm.

Lewandowski also used Twitter to post his response, denying her allegation.

Jupiter police have published a video of the alleged incident.

Trump is currently leading the race to become the Republican nominee for November’s US presidential election but his campaign style has been criticised by high-ranking members of the Republican Party establishment.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-03-30

[webfact]

Police charge Trump campaign manager with battery
By STEVE PEOPLES, TERRY SPENCER and JACK GILLUM

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Police charged Donald Trump's campaign manager with simple battery Tuesday as a videotaped altercation with a reporter transformed what was another messy campaign sideshow into a criminal court summons. Trump decried the charges.

Jupiter, Florida, police determined that probable cause existed to file a criminal complaint against the Republican front-runner's most trusted political adviser, Corey Lewandowski, for an altercation that took place after a campaign appearance earlier in the month. Police on Tuesday morning issued Lewandowski a notice to appear before a judge on May 4 for the misdemeanor charge, which carries up to a year in jail.

The unexpected development injects a court battle into an already contentious Republican primary season just a week before a high-stakes election in Wisconsin. It came on a day that all five presidential contenders campaigned in the state, overshadowing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's endorsement of Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders' push to narrow Hillary Clinton's delegate lead.

Speaking to reporters on his airplane in Wisconsin Tuesday, Trump vowed to stand by his campaign manager and lashed out at the young female reporter who conveyed the incident to police.

"How do you know those bruises weren't there before?" the New York businessman charged.

"I'm not going to let a person's life be destroyed," Trump said of Lewandowski. "No jury, in my opinion, would convict a man and destroy a man's life over what you witnessed."

Police charged Lewandowski after reviewing a surveillance video of the incident, obtained from security at the Trump-owned property. Police determined the video shows Lewandowski grabbing Michelle Fields, who worked for Breitbart News at the time, as she tried to ask Trump a question after a March 8 appearance.

The Trump campaign said Lewandowski would plead not guilty and "is completely confident that he will be exonerated."

Trump on Tuesday reversed a previous position that the incident never happened, suggesting instead that Lewandowski was trying to block Fields from "grabbing and asking questions."

"She was grabbing me. Does that mean I'm supposed to file charges against her?" Trump told reporters. He said Fields exaggerated her original statement that Lewandowski "grabbed me tightly by the arm and yanked me down."

The video appears to show him yanking her backward.

Fields weighed in on Twitter: "My story never changed. Seriously, just stop lying."

It's unclear what impact, if any, the news will have on Trump's march toward his party's presidential nomination. Critics cast it as another example of why the brash billionaire would struggle to attract women in a prospective race against Clinton, the Democratic front-runner.

"What Donald Trump has been doing over these last months is inciting violent behavior, aggressive behavior that I think is very dangerous and has resulted in attacks on people at his events including this charge that has now been brought against his campaign manager," Clinton said in La Crosse, Wisc. "I think ultimately the responsibility is Mr. Trump's."

The New York businessman's Republican rivals also seized on the news, which comes a week before a Wisconsin primary contest that could give Trump an insurmountable delegate lead or give his opponents new hope of a contested national convention.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said the incident is "the consequence of the culture of the Trump campaign — the abusive culture when you have a campaign that is built on personal insults, on attacks and now physical violence."

Cruz asked his senior aide, Rick Tyler, to resign in February for spreading a story that falsely alleged former rival Marco Rubio insulted the Bible.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he "probably would suspend somebody" depending on the evidence available.

"When we see things that we think are inappropriate, we take action and that's what I would do," Kasich said.

The incident fueled fresh attacks by anti-Trump groups, who have already been attacking the billionaire for failing to quell violence at his public appearances.

Our Principles PAC has been airing an ad featuring news clips of violence at Trump rallies and playing audio of the GOP front-runner saying of a protester, "I'd like to punch him in the face."

The same ad includes images of Fields' bruised arm.

"The police in Jupiter, Florida, have clearly seen what Donald Trump refuses to acknowledge: his campaign manager battered a woman and caused serious bruising," said Our Principles PAC leader Katie Packer.

In the days after the alleged assault, Trump told CNN that the incident was probably "made up." Campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks went further at the time, charging in a statement that "not a single camera or reporter of more than 100 in attendance captured the alleged incident."

"Lewandowski grabbed Fields' left arm with his right hand causing her to turn and step back," reads the police report released Tuesday. Fields showed police her left forearm which "appeared to show a grabbing-type injury," according to the investigating officer.

Lewandowski has retained a Florida attorney who said Tuesday there would be no further comment.
___

Peoples reported in Washington. AP writers Chad Day in Washington, Scott Bauer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Todd Richmond in Waukesha, Wisconsin and Kathleen Ronayne in Concord, New Hampshire contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-03-30

[jaidam]

This could have worked before the advent of recording mediums such as cameras and cctv's which caught this incident very clearly. Looked more like the journalist that grabbed at Trump was clearly holding something in her clenched fist. Lucky she didn't get herself shot for her Darwinism. Pure desperation by the left to make an issue over this, and with the news that Donald's popularity is soaring I can understand their panic. You guys had your turn for decades and ruined the western world with your lilly-livered PC. Time to make America Great again.

[Steely Dan]

Cynically Trumped up charges. Do the idiots responsible not realize this will further boost Trump's chances of getting elected? Another thought, there have been death threats made against Mr Trump with no resulting action and we had the idiot who rushed the stage whilst he was speaking. Had it been Obama or Clinton the result would have been jail and being shot respectively for doing so.

[NeverSure]

Cynically Trumped up charges. Do the idiots responsible not realize this will further boost Trump's chances of getting elected? Another thought, there have been death threats made against Mr Trump with no resulting action and we had the idiot who rushed the stage whilst he was speaking. Had it been Obama or Clinton the result would have been jail and being shot respectively for doing so.

The accusation is bogus. Trump has Secret Service protection and no one is supposed to touch him. She grabbed Trump's arm first and was walking along with him, turned toward him with something in her hand. Trump's campaign manager stepped between them, pushing her away from Trump but not at all violently.

She's lucky that one of the Secret Service agents didn't get after her first. Seriously.

You can see it in this video. She is in the light yellow sweater, about dead center in the picture at the start. She is with Trump. The campaign manager, who is walking behind, sees it and steps forward and between them, causing her to have to drop back but not at all violently.

The whole thing is "Trumped up" and it's hard to believe that anyone sees an "assault". As a matter of fact, it looks like Trump is the one who might have a complaint against her. So might the Secret Service.

It's all political.

Cheers.

Edited March 30, 2016 by NeverSure

[Publicus]

The Jupiter Florida Police Department concluded there is probable cause. A judge issued an arrest warrant.

The Trump Fanboyz need to take the matter up with them.

Lewandowski has been assigned a court date by the court. Police charges against Lewandowski will be determined by the legal processes, in court of law or out of court.

Trump himself narrowly escaped charges of incitement when a North Carolina county sheriff had been talked out of it a couple of weeks ago by the department's legal counsel. The long and the short of it are that Trump himself as well as his campaign are toying with the rule of law.

It is beginning to look like a number of law enforcement agencies may be taking a dim view of the violent rhetoric of Trump and the violent conduct of a number of his supporters.

Makes today a (rare) good news day about Trump and his campaign.

[empireboy]

As others have said or implied, it's an idiot woman trying to scam money for no justified reason.

She's lucky a secret service guy didn't grip her arm!

These bloodsucking leeches should be made an example of...

I hope Trump gets a million miles of positive press from it... I'm sure he will!

[wabothai]

I don't think Trumper chose this man for him being a very decent man. Probably the opposite is nearer the truth, by the looks of the guy.

[Chicog]

Funny how the Trump fans are trying to blame the left for this: She worked for Breitbart!

Essentially he could have simply apologised and been done with it, but instead him and Trump denounced her as "delusional" and accused her of making it all up.

Well now they're both exposed for what they are: Woman-hating liars.

Get over it.

[DM07]

You Trump- supporters are being beyond pathetic!

Like candidate, like follower!

[keemapoot]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Trump's already horrible polling numbers with women slip even further with both GOP and Dem female vote after this. And, correctly, he did this to himself, she did not work for a left-leaning rag.

As Bill Maher, joked "What's he gonna do first as President, send Megyn Kelly to Guantanamo?

Edited March 30, 2016 by keemapoot

[Steely Dan]

The Jupiter Florida Police Department concluded there is probable cause. A judge issued an arrest warrant.

The Trump Fanboyz need to take the matter up with them.

Lewandowski has been assigned a court date by the court. Police charges against Lewandowski will be determined by the legal processes, in court of law or out of court.

Trump himself narrowly escaped charges of incitement when a North Carolina county sheriff had been talked out of it a couple of weeks ago by the department's legal counsel. The long and the short of it are that Trump himself as well as his campaign are toying with the rule of law.

It is beginning to look like a number of law enforcement agencies may be taking a dim view of the violent rhetoric of Trump and the violent conduct of a number of his supporters.

Makes today a (rare) good news day about Trump and his campaign.

HRC's courtesans talking about legal due process, whatever next?

[smotherb]

This could have worked before the advent of recording mediums such as cameras and cctv's which caught this incident very clearly. Looked more like the journalist that grabbed at Trump was clearly holding something in her clenched fist. Lucky she didn't get herself shot for her Darwinism. Pure desperation by the left to make an issue over this, and with the news that Donald's popularity is soaring I can understand their panic. You guys had your turn for decades and ruined the western world with your lilly-livered PC. Time to make America Great again.

"You guys had your turn for decades" Which guys is that? Le gauche? Just which decades was that?

[Chicog]

The whole thing is "Trumped up" and it's hard to believe that anyone sees an "assault". As a matter of fact, it looks like Trump is the one who might have a complaint against her. So might the Secret Service.

The police see it as an assault, and that's enough.

I notice Trump's usual threat to "press charges", bullying women is his modus operandus.

The reason it's got to this stage is that former Koch strong-arm Lewandowski has as big an ego as his boss; a simple apology and this would have all gone away.

And what's even more disgusting is that Breitbart are so far up Trump's intestinal tract that they threw two of their own employees under the bus.

[Ace of Pop]

What sort of Battery .?. Maintenance Free I hope.

[Publicus]

Law over on the far side means some people are innocent until proved innocent while others are guilty until proved guilty.

Someone said long ago the point of justice is that one reaches a conclusion at the end of the process rather than at the beginning.

With Trump calling for, er, predicting riots at the convention in Cleveland should he end up getting his overdue bum's rush, one can suspect police throughout the United States are on the lookout for further unsavory Trump campaign operatives and for the big squirrel himself. His big paws are all over all the campaign violence to date.

Trump yesterday mounted an OTT aggressive protection of his strong armed guy as he and his campaign continued their March on Cleveland. Sort of the opposite of Sherman's from his civil war March Through Georgia. For Trump it will be instead: "If not nominated I will run anyway, if not elected as an Independent I will serve by any means no matter what.'

Win win win.

Edited March 30, 2016 by Publicus

[Ulic]

This journalist is a complete idiot and brings the law meant to protect people into disrepute.

The police and prosecutor should be ashamed for filing charges. She should be charged for

assaulting Trump and his campaign manager was just trying to stop her. That is the way

I see it.

[Chicog]

This journalist is a complete idiot and brings the law meant to protect people into disrepute.

The police and prosecutor should be ashamed for filing charges. She should be charged for

assaulting Trump and his campaign manager was just trying to stop her. That is the way

I see it.

Spoken like a true... er... Trump.

Added: But you're right about one thing:

This journalist is a complete idiot

I think that's a prerequisite for getting a job at Breitbart.

Edited March 30, 2016 by Chicog

[SgtRock]

This is a

What is seen in the video above is not a battery, neither is it assault, but it is a joke that charges have been filed and warrants raised and issued.

[iReason]

@Post 36 Never Sure

"...and it's hard to believe that anyone sees an "assault".

Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski, who has no right to put his hands on anyone, was charged with Battery.

Initially, the Trump campaign went in to lying spin mode. But that didn't wash...

"Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks denied the account in a statement released Thursday afternoon:"

“The accusation, which has only been made in the media and never addressed directly with the campaign, is entirely false." (Clearly the Police and Prosecutor think differently)

"As one of the dozens of individuals present as Mr. Trump exited the press conference I did not witness any encounter."

"In addition to our staff, which had no knowledge of said situation, not a single camera or reporter of more than 100 in attendance captured the alleged incident.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/inside-trumps-inner-circle-his-staffers-are-willing-to-fight-for-him-literally/2016/03/10/4b2b18e8-e660-11e5-a6f3-21ccdbc5f74e_story.html

Edited March 30, 2016 by iReason

[Publicus]

This may not hash out well for Lewandowski or for Trump.

Police have been awfully busy already with the Trump campaign violence and the rhetoric that incited it. This includes Trumps threats, er, warnings of riots in Cleveland if he gets the bum's rush. He should have been given the heave-ho by the Republican party months and months ago.

Police and the Ohio National Guard are looking at two possible riots in Cleveland, on insidet he convention hall and one outside of it. Who might know what else after it.

Police seem to be moving now pre-emptively. A charge was filed, police investigated, a judge signed an arrest warrant. Trump himself narrowly escaped one in North Carolina earlier this month.

Trump is a radical wildman trying to seize control of a major political party while inciting violence en route with threats of more violence once there. Trump's March on Cleveland.

[chuckd]

I am guessing Jupiter PD is not one of those infamous Dirty Harry police forces.

[Jingthing]

It's a low bar to meet battery under the law there.

[Skywalker69]

An Open Letter to Trump Voters from His Top Strategist-Turned-Defector.

http://www.xojane.com/issues/stephanie-cegielski-donald-trump-campaign-defector

[Publicus]

I am guessing Jupiter PD is not one of those infamous Dirty Harry police forces.

Harry's gonna get 'em. Like it or not. The Donald is gonna make Harry's day. Harry always does as Harry does.

The right carrying on against the police and the proper law enforcement authorities is not a twist, it is a prophecy fulfilled and with a great concern. There is a definite risk Republican right wing convention delegates who are anyway from the fringe may find out what it is to be on the long end of the club. Cause the cops and the Ohio militia are not looking forward to the incitement of political violence at the Republican National Nominating Convention in Cleveland, the mistake by the lake.

Lake Erie.

[Boon Mee]

For brushing up against this attacker he's charged with Battery?

[Publicus]

Bruising up against her.

[iReason]

Washington Post reporter Ben Terris:

"News broke that I had been a witness to the incident between Fields and Lewandowski."

"I watched as a man with short-cropped hair and a suit grabbed her arm and yanked her out of the way.

He was Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s 41-year-old campaign manager."

"Fields stumbled. Finger-shaped bruises formed on her arm."

“I’m just a little spooked,” she said, a tear streaming down her face. “No one has grabbed me like that before.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/inside-trumps-inner-circle-his-staffers-are-willing-to-fight-for-him-literally/2016/03/10/4b2b18e8-e660-11e5-a6f3-21ccdbc5f74e_story.html

[Chicog]

For brushing up against this attacker he's charged with Battery?

No, because that isn't what happened.

For heavens sake this story would never have happened if the Trump campaign could just stop lying all the time.

[iReason]

"Disgusting reporters, horrible people..." The bloviator breeding hate once again.

"Good job, Corey," Trump said. "Good job to our whole squad, right?"

Looks like lying is the standard MO in the Trump Squad: (From the top down)