Donald Trump (AP)
By Todd Beamon
Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to press charges against a former Breitbart News reporter after his campaign manager was charged with “intentionally” touching her at a rally earlier this month.
Here’s what the Republican presidential front-runner said on Twitter regarding the reporter, Michelle Fields:
Victory press conference was over.
Why is she allowed to grab me and shout questions? Can I press charges? pic.twitter.com/qbW2RjkINX— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2016
Fields, 28, accused Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, 42, with grabbing her arm during a news conference on March 8 in Jupiter, Fla., causing bruises.
Lewandowski was charged with simple battery for “intentionally” touching Fields, the Jupiter Police Department said Tuesday. He turned himself into police and was given a May 4 court date on the misdemeanor charge.
Authorities released video appearing to show Lewandowski reaching toward Fields and holding her back as Trump passed by after the news conference at the Trump National Golf Club.
He had won primaries in Michigan and Mississippi that night.
Trump posted another tweet quoting Fields’ initial statement to police:
Why is this reporter touching me as I leave news conference? What is in her hand?? pic.twitter.com/HQB8dl0fhn
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2016
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The developer also defended Lewandowski, saying that he was a “very decent man” and that the video showed “nothing there.”
Trump later told reporters in Wisconsin that Fields changed her story once the police video became known.
“You have to see it,” he said. “You take a look at her initial statement. It sounded like she got thrown out of a building.”
The businessman said that he could not tell whether Fields received bruises in the incident.
“I don’t know if there were bruises from that,” Trump said. “Who said if there were bruises from that? How do you know bruises weren’t there?
“If you’re going to get squeezed, wouldn’t you would have yelled out a scream if she had bruises on her arm? Take a look at her facial expression. Facial expression doesn’t even change.
“So, you say bruises. How did they get there? Who put them there? I don’t know he put them there.
“I’m sticking up for a person,” Trump said. “I’m not going to let a person’s life be destroyed over somebody we have on tape.”