NO BATTERY PROSECUTION FOR TRUMP CAMPAIGN MANAGER
'Not every minor interaction needs to go to court. Time for everyone to chill out'
image: http://www.wnd.com/files/2016/03/Trump-Fields-TW.jpg
Then-Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields attempts to ask questions of GOP front-runner Donald Trump with Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, far right, staring in her direction (Photo: Twitter)
It looks like Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, is off the hook.
A Florida prosecutor has determined that his department will not prosecute Lewandowski for battery after a March incident where former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields claimed he had pulled her and caused bruising, according to sources that gave the information to Politico.
The official announcement is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
WND reported the Florida prosecutor who weighed battery charges against Lewandowski supports Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president, causing many to claim the charges were politically motivated.
An article published by the Palm Beach Post on Nov. 17, 2015, has been circulating since Tuesday evening because it lists Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg as a member 150-member Florida Leadership Council, which was established by the Democratic Party to promote Hillary Clinton’s presidential candidacy.
The article states that Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg and Tax Collector Anne Gannon “are also part of Clinton’s Florida team.”
Aronberg, in a Politico interview last week, noted that the Jupiter police had a low “probable cause” standard to cite Lewandowski for misdemeanor battery, but his office had to consider whether a crime had occurred and whether a jury would possibly render a guilty verdict.
“We have a higher standard to go forward with a prosecution,” he said.
Fields filed the police report last month after Lewandowski grabbed her arm to moved her out of Trump’s way as he left a press conference at Trump National Gold Club in Jupiter. She said he bruised on her arm. In earlier tellings of her story, she claimed she was nearly pulled to the ground.
Security footage indicated Fields was touching Trump as he walked away. One unnamed Secret Service agent said in a statement to the London Daily Mail that Fields “crossed in between agents and our protectee after being told not to,” and touched Trump first, WND reported.
Watch security footage of the incident:
Fields reacted Wednesday afternoon on Twitter to news that Lewandowski would not be prosecuted.
“Prosecutor’s office told me they would inform me of decision tomorrow. If reports true, guess they decided to leak to reporters first. Ugly.”
Fields also confirmed reports that a deal had been offered by the state attorney for Lewandowski to publicly apologize to Fields.
“For those asking, office of prosecutor asked 2 weeks ago if I’d be ok with an apology from Corey. I said ya but haven’t heard back about it.”
It is not known at this time if a Lewandowski apology will be offered as part of the decision to not prosecute.
Even though the brush-up met the technical definition of a crime under Florida law, which considers battery as unwanted touching, many observers did not believe the offense seen on video was prosecutable.
“If you asked people to describe a battery, this certainly wouldn’t cut it. No injury, no damage, no nothing,” Miami criminal defense lawyer David Oscar Markus told Politico.
“Not every minor interaction needs to go to court. Time for everyone to chill out,” he said. “Jeb Bush has a better claim for battery against Trump after those debates than this reporter does against Lewandowski.”
At the time of the incident, the Trump campaign issued a statement asserting Lewandowski’s innocence.
“Mr. Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge,” read the statement. “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.”
Fields may still seek defamation charges against Lewandowski based on his efforts to dismiss her claims and cast doubt on her integrity, the sources told Politico. Fields confirmed the possible civil action to Fox News’ Megyn Kelly Wednesday night.
Copyright 2016 WND
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2016/04/no-battery-prosecution-for-trump-campaign-manager/#R7SZqkcbd2HfXUEm.99
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for commenting. Your comments are needed for helping to improve the discussion.