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:
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.
She never made any such claim. The blogger Charles C. Johnson at his blog GotNews made that claim against West.
http://gotnews.com/breaking-exclusive-allen-west-has-sexually-harassed-at-least-two-women/
Johnson claims that West sexually harassed two women at PJ Media and at least two others using un-named / anonymous sources. He also claimed that PJ Media was shutting down.
According to Johnson, “Fields repeatedly and emphatically refused comment on the record.”
I’ve asked this before, but does anyone have any source that proves Fields in her own words, ever accused West of groping her that doesn’t come from or isn’t traced back to Johnson’s blog?
Find the link. Where did she say that he threw her to the ground? Hint: You’re going to find that she said that he TRIED to throw her to the ground, not that he actually did, and as hard as he yanked on her arm, that may have been her impression at the time. Nice try, though.
Tell us more about auto fill. LOL!
Do you work hard to be that stupid, or is it genetic?
You are wrong.
It seems the only thing you can read is Hillary’s talking points.
There is no stupid battery. Give it up.
Her forearm is now above her elbow?
Exactly!
Trump will have the votes of anybody with a brain. It is quite obvious that this is cooked up to get even with
Trump because Cruz lost his honcho over dirty stuff he did to Carson.
I’m sorry you can’t see what the Jupiter Police saw and everyone not blinded by their support of Trump.
Stop being an idiot.
The cops charged her. They found probable cause. That means far more then anything you think or believe.
Now it’s up to the justice system.
The Jupiter prosecutor is in Hillary’s circle. He’s as anti-Trump as you Cruzers.
No Hillary, you are the only idiot who believes this nonsense.
Battery!
Grew up, get out of the basement and read a book. You can’t even tell the difference between a real crime and a political fantasy.
Keep giving in to this bull shit, it is what good leftist Democrats do all day long. They lie, like you do, and call people criminals and racists who are not criminals and racists, just like you do. But you are too stupid to realize you are being used like a rubber.
Hey I’m not the one talking about auto fill. LOL! Best laugh I had all day.
Are you drunk?
I didn’t press charges against him you fool.
I guess I shouldn’t have expected you to understand complex systems like “computers.”
No you shouldn’t have expected me to fall for auto fill. LOL!
You are not up to this.
Stay in the basement.
Just kills you that Trumps campaign manager was so stupid as to get into this mess.
Their handling of it has only made it worse. Its really quite telling.
This has nothing to do with Trump, it is beyond your reach.
You don’t get it.
There is no crime, but go ahead and believe Hillary.
Stick to the basement, don’t eat all your beef jerky in one sitting.
Hey - look who is on your side? Obama.
The defense rests.
Now even you can understand that it is bullshit.
Go ahead, stand with Obama.
White House rips Trump for standing by aide charged with battery
TheHill.com ^ | 30 March 2016 | Jordan Fabian
Posted on 3/31/2016, 9:26:25 AM by Rockitz
White House press secretary Josh Earnest on Wednesday condemned Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump
Corey Lewandowski is accused of grabbing the arm of a reporter after a Trump press conference in Florida earlier this month.
“I am confident that neither President Obama nor President Bush would tolerate someone on their staff being accused of physically assaulting a reporter, lying about it and then blaming the victim,” Earnest told reporters.
Earnest said Trump’s response to the Lewandowski incident, as well his other controversial actions, is “completely outside the realm of acceptable behavior.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
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