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Trump campaign manager charged with battery in Florida Trump campaign manager charged with battery in Florida
(35 minutes later)
The campaign manager for Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump was charged with battery by police in Florida on Tuesday for allegedly grabbing and yanking the arm of a Breitbart News reporter who was trying to ask Trump a question. The campaign manager for Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump was charged Tuesday in Florida with battery for allegedly grabbing and yanking the arm of a Breitbart News reporter who had been trying to ask Trump a question.
Corey Lewandowski, 42, faces one misdemeanor count of battery. He voluntarily went to police headquarters in Jupiter, Fla., and signed paperwork that ordered him to appear in court on May 4.Corey Lewandowski, 42, faces one misdemeanor count of battery. He voluntarily went to police headquarters in Jupiter, Fla., and signed paperwork that ordered him to appear in court on May 4.
The charge stems from an incident on March 8, on a night when Trump won Republican primaries in three states and held a news conference at one of his golf courses in Jupiter. The Breitbart reporter, Michelle Fields, said Lewandowski grabbed her forcefully as she sought to interview Trump afterward, as he left the room at his golf club. The incident was witnessed, and described in print, by Washington Post reporter Ben Terris. The charge stems from an incident on March 8 after Trump won Republican primaries in three states and held a news conference at his Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter. The Breitbart reporter, Michelle Fields, said Lewandowski grabbed her forcefully as she sought to interview Trump afterward, as he left the room at the golf club. The incident was witnessed, and described in print, by Washington Post reporter Ben Terris.
Afterward, however, both Lewandowski and Trump both rejected Fields’s account. Lewandowski tweeted that Fields was “totally delusional” and wrote that he “never touched you.” Afterward, however, Lewandowski and Trump both rejected Fields’s account. Lewandowski tweeted that Fields was “totally delusional” and wrote that he “never touched you.”
But on Tuesday, a court affidavit written by Marc Bujnowski of the Jupiter Police said that was untrue. But on Tuesday, a court affidavit written by Marc Bujnowski of the Jupiter Police Department said that was untrue.
The affidavit cited a security-camera tape from Trump’s own club — which was also made public Tuesday. More clearly than past videos of the incident, it appeared to show Lewandowski reaching out to grab the reporter. The affidavit cited a security-camera tape from Trump’s own club — which was made public Tuesday. More clearly than past videos of the incident, it appeared to show Lewandowski reaching out to grab the reporter.
“Lewandowski . . . grabbed Fields’ left arm with his right hand, causing her to turn and step back,” Bujnowski wrote in an affidavit describing the incident. The affidavit continued: “Probable cause exists to charge Corey Lewandowski . . . with (1) count of Simple Battery.”“Lewandowski . . . grabbed Fields’ left arm with his right hand, causing her to turn and step back,” Bujnowski wrote in an affidavit describing the incident. The affidavit continued: “Probable cause exists to charge Corey Lewandowski . . . with (1) count of Simple Battery.”
In a tweet shortly after the release of the video, Trump stood by his campaign manager, calling him a “very decent man.” In a tweet shortly after the video was released, Trump stood by his campaign manager, calling him a “very decent man.”
“Look at tapes — nothing there!” Trump concluded. “Look at tapes — nothing there!” he concluded.
[Terris’ story: Lewandowski, and other Trump staffers, willing to fight for him][Terris’ story: Lewandowski, and other Trump staffers, willing to fight for him]
Trump’s campaign put out a statement defending Lewandowski on Tuesday. It gave no indication that he would be suspended or otherwise removed from his duties as campaign manager.Trump’s campaign put out a statement defending Lewandowski on Tuesday. It gave no indication that he would be suspended or otherwise removed from his duties as campaign manager.
“Mr. Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge. He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court,” campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement. “He is completely confident that he will be exonerated.”“Mr. Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge. He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court,” campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement. “He is completely confident that he will be exonerated.”
Hicks said that Lewandowski will be represented by Florida attorneys Scott Richardson and Kendall Coffee. Hicks said that Lewandowski will be represented by Florida lawyers Scott Richardson and Kendall Coffee.
Shortly after Lewandowski turned himself in, a dispute erupted over whether he had been “arrested.” The Trump campaign insisted in a statement that Lewandowski “was not arrested,” although a police report distributed to news outlets said his arrest occurred at 8:10 a.m. Shortly after Lewandowski turned himself in, a dispute erupted over whether he had been arrested. The Trump campaign insisted in a statement that he “was not arrested,” although a police report distributed to news outlets said his arrest occurred at 8:10 a.m.
A spokesman for the Jupiter Police Department said Lewandowski was informed that he would be charged and voluntarily went to police headquarters, where he signed a form at 8:10 a.m. Tuesday to acknowledge his May 4 court date. A spokesman for the Jupiter Police Department said that Lewandowski was informed that he would be charged and that he voluntarily went to police headquarters, where he signed a form at 8:10 a.m. Tuesday to acknowledge his May 4 court date.
“He came in by himself, without us picking him up, and signed his notice to appear, said Officer Joseph Beinlich, a department spokesman. He added that because Lewandowski faces a misdemeanor charge, no booking photo was taken. “He came in by himself, without us picking him up, and signed his notice to appear,” said officer Joseph Beinlich, a department spokesman. He added that because Lewandowski faces a misdemeanor charge, no booking photo was taken.
Under Florida law, battery is committed when a person “actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other.”Under Florida law, battery is committed when a person “actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other.”
It was not clear from the Trump campaign’s statement whether its contention was still that Lewandowski never touched Fields.It was not clear from the Trump campaign’s statement whether its contention was still that Lewandowski never touched Fields.
In the days after the incident, Trump’s campaign said it believed Fields was grabbed by another man in Trump’s entourage — possibly a security official.In the days after the incident, Trump’s campaign said it believed Fields was grabbed by another man in Trump’s entourage — possibly a security official.
Trump, asked about it after a Republican debate, told CNN that he believed Fields had fabricated the story.Trump, asked about it after a Republican debate, told CNN that he believed Fields had fabricated the story.
“This was, in my opinion, made up,” Trump told CNN then. “Everybody said nothing happened. Perhaps she made the story up. I think that’s what happened.”“This was, in my opinion, made up,” Trump told CNN then. “Everybody said nothing happened. Perhaps she made the story up. I think that’s what happened.”
In a previously unpublished interview with The Washington Post — conducted last Wednesday, before charges were filed, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach — Lewandowski continued to assert that he never made contact with Fields.In a previously unpublished interview with The Washington Post — conducted last Wednesday, before charges were filed, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach — Lewandowski continued to assert that he never made contact with Fields.
He said it was wrong to believe that he had cleared Fields away from Trump’s path because he believed she would ask him an uncomfortable question. He said it was wrong to think that he had cleared Fields away from Trump’s path because he thought she would ask him an uncomfortable question.
“Just the premise that Breitbart is going to ask Mr. Trump a question that he can’t handle, and I’m so concerned what this question might be — on its face, that is just an egregious notion,” Lewandowski said.“Just the premise that Breitbart is going to ask Mr. Trump a question that he can’t handle, and I’m so concerned what this question might be — on its face, that is just an egregious notion,” Lewandowski said.
A reporter pointed out that Terris, the Post reporter, saw the incident unfold.A reporter pointed out that Terris, the Post reporter, saw the incident unfold.
“I don’t know. I don’t know what Ben did or didn’t see. I have no idea, but I’m not calling into question anything other than the fact that I don’t know him. He and I have never met,” Lewandowski said. “I don’t know Ben, and I don’t know [Fields], and I’ve never met her.”“I don’t know. I don’t know what Ben did or didn’t see. I have no idea, but I’m not calling into question anything other than the fact that I don’t know him. He and I have never met,” Lewandowski said. “I don’t know Ben, and I don’t know [Fields], and I’ve never met her.”
Also Tuesday, a spokeswoman for Trump’s chief rival in the GOP presidential race, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), issued a statement condemning Trump’s campaign. Also Tuesday, a spokeswoman for Trump’s chief rival in the GOP presidential race, Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.), issued a statement condemning Trump’s campaign.
“Unfortunately, this abusive behavior seems to be part of the culture of the Trump campaign. Personal attacks, verbal attacks, and now physical attacks have no place in politics or anywhere else in our society,” spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said.“Unfortunately, this abusive behavior seems to be part of the culture of the Trump campaign. Personal attacks, verbal attacks, and now physical attacks have no place in politics or anywhere else in our society,” spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said.
Callum Borchers, Jose A. DelReal, Karen Tumulty and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report.Callum Borchers, Jose A. DelReal, Karen Tumulty and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report.