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Trump's campaign manager has been charged, but his alleged victim is the one being punished Trump's campaign manager has been charged, but his alleged victim is the one being punished
(5 months later)
This morning the unexpected happened: Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was charged with the battery of a female reporter.This morning the unexpected happened: Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was charged with the battery of a female reporter.
It’s a claim that been out there for weeks, but now, with newly released surveillance video, it’s clear that Ben Terris’s original account of the incident in the Washington Post – that Lewandowski grabbed Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields’s arm and yanked her away from Trump – and Fields’s own recollection of it to Terris and others, are true.It’s a claim that been out there for weeks, but now, with newly released surveillance video, it’s clear that Ben Terris’s original account of the incident in the Washington Post – that Lewandowski grabbed Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields’s arm and yanked her away from Trump – and Fields’s own recollection of it to Terris and others, are true.
But for every Lewandowski that gets caught, many more never will.But for every Lewandowski that gets caught, many more never will.
This is far from the first time he has been accused of inappropriate behavior: Politico and BuzzFeed both reported on his purported history of similar conduct. But neither outlet was able to get the affected women to go on the record making these claims, and some pundits dismissed the reports as “cheap shots”.This is far from the first time he has been accused of inappropriate behavior: Politico and BuzzFeed both reported on his purported history of similar conduct. But neither outlet was able to get the affected women to go on the record making these claims, and some pundits dismissed the reports as “cheap shots”.
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While relying on anonymous sources is indeed problematic, there should also be some sensitivity, or at least acknowledgement, of how hard it is to come forward with stories of subtle abuse or hyper-sexualization. To write about these stories without acknowledging the difficulties and possible repercussions women face for coming forward by name is to describe only half of the forces at play.While relying on anonymous sources is indeed problematic, there should also be some sensitivity, or at least acknowledgement, of how hard it is to come forward with stories of subtle abuse or hyper-sexualization. To write about these stories without acknowledging the difficulties and possible repercussions women face for coming forward by name is to describe only half of the forces at play.
Take the case of Michelle Fields, who had almost every conceivable advantage in telling her story.Take the case of Michelle Fields, who had almost every conceivable advantage in telling her story.
Consider all she had going for her. She’s a well-heeled professional who had a job at a major conservative outlet and a large social media following. She’s connected in the conservative media world Trump relies on. She had a Washington Post reporter standing six inches behind her to document every aspect of the altercation, which happened in the middle of a press gaggle, leaving ample video footage available of the incident.Consider all she had going for her. She’s a well-heeled professional who had a job at a major conservative outlet and a large social media following. She’s connected in the conservative media world Trump relies on. She had a Washington Post reporter standing six inches behind her to document every aspect of the altercation, which happened in the middle of a press gaggle, leaving ample video footage available of the incident.
And then consider what happened to her for telling her story on the record. She felt the need to resign from Breitbart News. She lost her contributorship at Fox News – a rare and valuable perch – because she could no longer be “impartial” about Trump, according to the show’s host, noted Trump fan Eric Bolling. Her reputation was smeared by the very man who assaulted her, who called her “delusional” while his candidate suggested “she made it up”. Consider that days later, Trump would put her aggressor on stage after a series of primary wins and praise him by name. “Good job, Corey,” he said.And then consider what happened to her for telling her story on the record. She felt the need to resign from Breitbart News. She lost her contributorship at Fox News – a rare and valuable perch – because she could no longer be “impartial” about Trump, according to the show’s host, noted Trump fan Eric Bolling. Her reputation was smeared by the very man who assaulted her, who called her “delusional” while his candidate suggested “she made it up”. Consider that days later, Trump would put her aggressor on stage after a series of primary wins and praise him by name. “Good job, Corey,” he said.
It’s important, in the wake of this fracas, to remember that initially all Fields wanted was an apology. Instead her integrity, and the veracity of the Washington Post’s account, were called into question. So she filed a police report because, in the face of unabashed lying by the Trump campaign, it was the only way to “prove” her story true.It’s important, in the wake of this fracas, to remember that initially all Fields wanted was an apology. Instead her integrity, and the veracity of the Washington Post’s account, were called into question. So she filed a police report because, in the face of unabashed lying by the Trump campaign, it was the only way to “prove” her story true.
Now that there’s a legal paper trail, in what borders on the absurd, Donald Trump continues to support Lewandowski. “Look at tapes-nothing there!” he tweeted after the news broke, with a link to a recording that shows his campaign manager grabbing Fields clear as day.Now that there’s a legal paper trail, in what borders on the absurd, Donald Trump continues to support Lewandowski. “Look at tapes-nothing there!” he tweeted after the news broke, with a link to a recording that shows his campaign manager grabbing Fields clear as day.
Related: Donald Trump's campaign violence is condoned all the way to the top | Lucia Graves
A few hours later Trump even went on offense, tweeting a photo of Fields holding a pen close to his jacket. “Why is this reporter touching me as I leave news conference? What is in her hand??” In another he asked, “Why is she allowed to grab me and shout questions? Can I press charges?” In an interview this evening, he asked why she didn’t scream if she was bruised by the altercation, as she tweeted.A few hours later Trump even went on offense, tweeting a photo of Fields holding a pen close to his jacket. “Why is this reporter touching me as I leave news conference? What is in her hand??” In another he asked, “Why is she allowed to grab me and shout questions? Can I press charges?” In an interview this evening, he asked why she didn’t scream if she was bruised by the altercation, as she tweeted.
Perhaps the most befuddling thing politically is that Trump continues to defend this guy. Other political candidates would distance themselves from such actions. They’d say their campaign doesn’t condone violence. Any other political candidate, after an apology and investigation, would fire Lewandowski (and the calls to fire Lewandowski are growing louder every day).Perhaps the most befuddling thing politically is that Trump continues to defend this guy. Other political candidates would distance themselves from such actions. They’d say their campaign doesn’t condone violence. Any other political candidate, after an apology and investigation, would fire Lewandowski (and the calls to fire Lewandowski are growing louder every day).
But Trump is not doing or saying any of that.But Trump is not doing or saying any of that.
And that’s because Lewandowski is in his tribe, along with so many other violent supporters. At that rally in Florida earlier this year, Trump said that if you hurt someone protesting at his campaign events – or in Trump’s words, “knock the crap out of them”, he won’t just look the other way; he’ll “pay your legal fees”.And that’s because Lewandowski is in his tribe, along with so many other violent supporters. At that rally in Florida earlier this year, Trump said that if you hurt someone protesting at his campaign events – or in Trump’s words, “knock the crap out of them”, he won’t just look the other way; he’ll “pay your legal fees”.
That’s essentially what’s happening right now: Trump is standing behind someone supporting his interests, however irrational or immoral they may be. It doesn’t matter if the offending party is a protester, or a woman, or just a member of the media trying to ask him a question when he doesn’t want to answer; he hates all of those groups fervently, though the media is the only one he regularly calls “disgusting”.That’s essentially what’s happening right now: Trump is standing behind someone supporting his interests, however irrational or immoral they may be. It doesn’t matter if the offending party is a protester, or a woman, or just a member of the media trying to ask him a question when he doesn’t want to answer; he hates all of those groups fervently, though the media is the only one he regularly calls “disgusting”.
And now, if it’s even possible, he has reason to hate the media even more. Because we notice things like this: as I wrote earlier, Lewandowski’s assault charge matters not just because Fields was hurt, but because Trump is hurting people systematically. What happened to Fields shows the culture of violence at Trump’s rallies is a tone set at the top. And that Lewandowski, in a way, was merely acting like an attack dog: he was just following the orders of an even bigger menace.And now, if it’s even possible, he has reason to hate the media even more. Because we notice things like this: as I wrote earlier, Lewandowski’s assault charge matters not just because Fields was hurt, but because Trump is hurting people systematically. What happened to Fields shows the culture of violence at Trump’s rallies is a tone set at the top. And that Lewandowski, in a way, was merely acting like an attack dog: he was just following the orders of an even bigger menace.