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Trump: I may file counter-charges if Lewandowski is prosecuted
Hotair ^ | 03/30/2016 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 03/30/2016 8:17:27 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

If the campaign for the Republican presidential campaign can be likened to a circus, then the legal eruption over alleged battery by Donald Trump’s campaign manager promises the possibility that the circus might get franchised. Corey Lewandowski surrendered to police in Jupiter, Florida on Monday after they charged him with simple battery on reporter Michelle Fields. At the same time, they released overhead video that belies the public denials from Lewandowski that Fields was “delusional” and Trump’s assertion that nothing happened.

Under normal circumstances, a candidate would issue an apology and fire the campaign manager. Instead, Trump told Good Morning America that he might file simple battery charges against Fields for touching him too:

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO


ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

Donald Trump says he is considering legal action in response to a recent battery charge against campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.

“Frankly, this is not a claim that should have been made,” Trump told ABC News’ David Muir on “Good Morning America.”

Lewandowski was arrested on Tuesday morning for allegedly grabbing former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields following a Trump event earlier this month. Trump dismissed the incident as “very minor,” saying that “she was hardly even touched” and “practically nothing happened.”

“I’m sure there will be a counter-claim coming down the line,” Trump added. “Should I file charges against her because she touched my arm as well?”

Let’s start with the basics. Simple battery is defined in the same Florida statute that also defines felony battery:

784.03 Battery; felony battery.—
(1)(a) The offense of battery occurs when a person:
1. Actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other; or
2. Intentionally causes bodily harm to another person.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (2), a person who commits battery commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(2) A person who has one prior conviction for battery, aggravated battery, or felony battery and who commits any second or subsequent battery commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. For purposes of this subsection, “conviction” means a determination of guilt that is the result of a plea or a trial, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld or a plea of nolo contendere is entered.

Battery consists of physical contact intentionally applied “against the will of the other.” That’s a pretty broad description, but it does have legal and practical limits on interpretation. “Battery” does not cover someone moving into a person’s personal space alone, and it seems very doubtful that police would consider a reporter’s tap on the arm to ask a question of a candidate to qualify. There has to be evidence of demonstrable contact that clearly conflicts with the other’s will — like someone lunging forward to grab and impede a person’s progress. The video shows a pretty clear indication of that with Lewandowski, but nothing even close from Fields in regard to Trump. Furthermore, a “counter-claim” would involve a charge from Lewandowski, not Trump, and Fields wasn’t close to Lewandowski in the video until he reached out and grabbed her.

Still, anyone can file a report with the police department. The prospect of a presidential candidate walking into the Jupiter police station to complain that a reporter tapped him on the arm would be just one more signpost along the way to this cycle’s Twilight Zone, and in any other cycle would make the candidate a laughingstock. Isn’t the Trump raison d’être his supposed toughness?

Update: Gary Gross provides a frame-by-frame analysis of the tape, and does not see much of a case for a Trump complaint.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: lewandowski; michelefields; trump
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To: CA Conservative

Nonsense. This whole thing was a set up from the beginning. She wanted to be the story. Her whole goal was to get him charged. I’m glad Breitbart fired her.


121 posted on 03/30/2016 10:46:58 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: Parley Baer

Really? Based on what.

I like a fighter too. Someone who will fight for their country when its appropriate.

When everything is a fight for a person then there’s a problem.


122 posted on 03/30/2016 11:01:35 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Titus-Maximus

Fox didn’t have anything to do with it.

The campaign manager for a major Presidential candidate had battery charges filed against him. That is a major story and should covered by every news organization.

If he hadn’t grabbed her then she couldnt have filed charges.

He should keep his hands to himself. Trump could have calmed things down but he chose to attack. Because he always attacks.


123 posted on 03/30/2016 11:06:24 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

“I’m guessing that was a autofilled field on the computer form when she filled it out.”

So now you are guessing. Maybe he tried to shoot her and poison her too but they ran out of space on the “auto fill” line. LOL! I’m laughing. Have you never filled out a police report? They are not “auto filled” Its very specific.

Nice try and thanks for playing. :-)


124 posted on 03/30/2016 11:20:36 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: circlecity
I’m glad Breitbart fired her.

She quit, along with several others.

125 posted on 03/30/2016 11:21:15 AM PDT by CA Conservative (Texan by birth, Californian by circumstance)
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To: CA Conservative

Yeah, quit before she got fired. I’m sure she “wanted to spend more time with the family”


126 posted on 03/30/2016 11:22:08 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Yes I’ve filled out a police report. Once it was in paper that I hand wrote, and once they took a statement and had me sign it. In the second case it was typed into a computer and printed.

yes I’m guessing. Which is exactly what you are doing when you say you know how the form was filled out.

So you’ve filled out Criminal complaints in Jupiter Florida? You know personally how they handle this?

Cmon tell us more.


127 posted on 03/30/2016 11:22:51 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: RightFighter

I must be delusional because after viewing the video well actually two different videos I still can’t see the part where Corey Lewandowski threw Michelle Fields violently to the ground. The other part my delusion made me miss is where Corey Lewandowski used his fist, feet and teeth on Michelle Fields. All of which she alleges in the written police report.

She’s a disturbed troublemaker who Breitbart wisely cut loose before she gets them in a legal jam.

She’s lucky the Secret Service didn’t take hold of her then she would know what its like to be grabbed and manhandled.


128 posted on 03/30/2016 11:28:25 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: RightFighter

I must be delusional because after viewing the video well actually two different videos I still can’t see the part where Corey Lewandowski threw Michelle Fields violently to the ground. The other part my delusion made me miss is where Corey Lewandowski used his fist, feet and teeth on Michelle Fields. All of which she alleges in the written police report.

She’s a disturbed troublemaker who Breitbart wisely cut loose before she gets them in a legal jam.

She’s lucky the Secret Service didn’t take hold of her then she would know what its like to be grabbed and manhandled.


129 posted on 03/30/2016 11:29:00 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: RightFighter

Thanks for the link.

Michelle Fields Statement:

http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2016/03/10/3276486/

“I was jolted backwards. Someone had grabbed me tightly by the arm and yanked me down. I almost fell to the ground, but was able to maintain my balance.”

Do you see that happening in the video?
Does she appear to be off balance or almost falling to the ground?

I don’t see anything in that video to substantiate her accusation.

It looks like it basically is a she-said / he-said case.
And after seeing multiple videos it is obvious to me that she grossly over-exaggerated the encounter.

If I’m sitting on a jury and a prosecutor expected me to convict based on that video he would be highly disappointed.

If I’m the judge I would want to throw the book at the prosecutor for wasting my time and the taxpayers’ money.


130 posted on 03/30/2016 11:33:09 AM PDT by Iron Munro (Noah: 'When the animals began to pair up by specie and stand in line, I really took notice.')
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To: driftdiver

Police reports are police reports. There is no auto fill. The word processor does not guess at the accusations you make agains’t another person. I think you are confusing logging on to your ATT wireless account with standard police computer systems.

Auto fill. Ya gotta love it. LOL!


131 posted on 03/30/2016 11:38:54 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Its a category selection.

ya know,

What was used:

1. firearm
2. knife
3. hands, feet, teeth
4. club
5. bad hairdoo

So she selected #3. Unless you have any proof that she actually wrote in teeth? The officers statement doesnt say she said “teeth”. It says she told the cop he grabbed her.

I know Georgia schools are behind but cmon.


132 posted on 03/30/2016 11:43:05 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: circlecity

No, she quit because Breitbart didn’t support her during this incident - several other people quit for the same reason.


133 posted on 03/30/2016 11:58:09 AM PDT by CA Conservative (Texan by birth, Californian by circumstance)
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To: CA Conservative
No, she quit because Breitbart didn’t support her during this incident - several other people quit for the same reason.

That may be the reasons given, but with this bunch who knows what the truth is.

134 posted on 03/30/2016 12:00:28 PM PDT by Just mythoughts (Jesus said Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.)
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To: CA Conservative

Yeah, Breitbart didn’t care at all that this is at least the 5th bogus assault charge she has alleged. The others quit cuz they were mad she got fired. And Breitbart should have fired her, she’s a walking libel suit. I’m surprised Allan West didn’t sue her and her employer over the false sexual assault claim she made against him. Which she was later forced to retract, at which point West let it die.


135 posted on 03/30/2016 12:02:14 PM PDT by circlecity
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To: driftdiver

This woman has filed hysterical complaints in the past, she claimed Allen West sexually assaulted her, and then she recanted. So she is a fruit cake, and a bad witness.

This is a huge waste of the state’s time, but it so happens the prosecuting attorney is on the elect Hillary committee, so you are in good company for the making of this travesty of justice. That is the first sign this arrest is bull shit.

She committed battery on Donald Trump, and so she is subject to arrest in this fantasy world, I hope he presses charges to teach her a lesson.

Donald Trump is under an Islamic terrorist death threat right now, and his employees have every right to protect him. That will be stated to the jury, and the case will be thrown out.

Even Piers Morgan said this reporter should be embarrassed to make this claim. It was foolish, and very common in political press scrums. This is standard behavior that is expected by all. There will be thousands of videos produced at the court to show it is common practice for reporters to be touched. Sorry, not buying the left wing micro-aggression alligator tears.

She was also told my the secret service to leave.

So you are wrong on virtually all counts.


136 posted on 03/30/2016 12:39:55 PM PDT by Titus-Maximus (It doesn't matter who votes for whom, it only matters who counts the votes - Joe Stalin)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Michelle Fields NEVER said that Corey Lewandowski “threw her violently to the ground.”

The part about “hands, fists, feet, and teeth” is from an incident report and that is a drop-down coding selection for the “weapon type” used in the incident. It is not a part of Michelle Fields’ statement to the police officer.


137 posted on 03/30/2016 12:51:27 PM PDT by RightFighter (This space for rent)
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To: Titus-Maximus

Im not wrong on any count.

All I’ve said is he grabbed her and that action met the requirement for battery.

Trump should file a complaint. If Trump is in so much danger perhaps they should keep him from mingling with large crowds.

You haven’t shown how I was wrong on any count. So are you a liar?


138 posted on 03/30/2016 12:54:08 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Iron Munro

I see much more that is supportive of her side of events than I do that supports these versions of events:

“Well, I heard that nothing happened. You know we’re surrounded by Secret Service and when they left; you all set? We’re surrounded by Secret Service, many Secret Service, you see some of them here; when we left, I spoke to them, nothing happened.”

“The Secret Service are amazing people, they said absolutely nothing happened.”

“You are totally delusional. I never touched you.”

“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.”


139 posted on 03/30/2016 12:54:49 PM PDT by RightFighter (This space for rent)
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To: RightFighter

Hey hey another autofill guy. And Michelle Field absolutely did say Lewandowski threw her to the ground. Then she had to back off after the video came out.

Bottom line she was out of line and off limits. Had been warned twice by the SS who were actually reaching for her to grab her when Corey Lewandowski elbowed past her.

I mean after being sexually assaulted by Allen West this was a nothing burger. She’s a psycho.


140 posted on 03/30/2016 1:23:39 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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