Texas man punched an election employee who informed him to take away Trump hat at voting website, police say
A Texas man who wore a hat supporting former President Donald Trump punched an election employee who informed him that sporting objects endorsing a candidate are prohibited at voting websites, a sheriff mentioned Friday.
The election employee, recognized as a 69-year-old man, was handled on the scene Thursday and returned to his election put up at a San Antonio library on Friday, officers mentioned. The suspect was arrested on felony fees of assaulting an aged particular person and will face extra fees, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar mentioned.
The alleged assault occurred on the finish of the primary week of early voting in Texas, the place lengthy strains have stretched outdoors some polling locations.
Each the sheriff and county elections administrator urged voters to remain calm and affected person throughout generally lengthy waits to vote throughout what they described as a contentious election.
“Fortunately there was nothing life-threatening about what occurred, nevertheless it was nonetheless an unsightly incident,” Salazar mentioned.
The suspect, recognized as Jesse Lutzenberger, remained in jail Friday night, in accordance with Bexar County data. Jail data didn’t listing an lawyer and a telephone quantity for Lutzenberger’s residence couldn’t instantly be discovered Friday.
Underneath Texas legislation, sporting clothes for or in opposition to a candidate inside a polling place is prohibited, because it’s thought-about electioneering. Lutzenberger allegedly entered the polling location in a crimson “MAGA or TRUMP” baseball cap, in accordance with an arrest affidavit.
After being informed he needed to take away his cap within the voting space, Lutzenberger did and proceeded to solid a poll, in accordance with Salazar. He then put the cap again on earlier than leaving, adopted by the clerk once more telling him take away the hat whereas contained in the constructing.
Because the clerk escorted him out of the library, Lutzenberger allegedly threw an elbow or arm again towards the clerk after which turned to punch him within the face a number of instances, in accordance with Salazar.
The clerk was handled on the scene by emergency medical personnel, Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen mentioned.
Salazar mentioned there have been “a number of” incidents of voters sporting prohibited clothes or caps into polling locations, however they then eliminated them when the state legislation was defined to them.
“Nothing right here is value getting harm for, going to jail for,” he mentioned.
