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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Reporter Goes to Police Over Rally Takedown

JUPITER, Fla. (CN) - A Breitbart News reporter filed a criminal complaint against a Donald Trump campaign official on Friday for an incident she says occurred when she attempted to ask the Republican front-runner a question during a press conference.

Michelle Fields filed the incident report with the Jupiter Police Department Friday morning claiming she was the victim of simple battery at a Trump event held at the Trump National Golf Club on March 8.

The report described the weapon used against her as "hands, feet, fist, teeth."

The department later confirmed it was investigating the incident, but said no further information was available at this time.

In an op-ed Fields wrote about the incident and which Breitbart News published on Thursday, the 28 year old reporter said she was grabbed by someone as she tried to ask a question of the candidate, and that a Washington Post reporter, Ben Terris, "immediately remarked that it was Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, who aggressively tried to pull me to the ground."

On Thursday night, after a televised debate with Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Trump told reporters who inquired about the alleged incident that "nothing happened."

"Perhaps she made the story up," Trump said, according to ABC News.

After learning that Fields had filed an incident report with police, the Trump campaign sent out a one paragraph release reiterating its contention the incident never happened.

"The accusation, which has only been made in the media and never addressed directly with the campaign, is entirely false," the statement said. "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."

The statement included a link to Breitbart News' website featuring still photographs and video taken before, during and after the alleged incident, accompanied by an analysis worthy of a Zapruder film of President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

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