Police charged Donald Trump’s campaign manager early on Tuesday, following an incident at a campaign event earlier this month during which a reporter claims she was assaulted.
The charges stem from a news conference in Jupiter, Florida where Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields said someone grabbed her arm.
WATCH: Ted Cruz says nominating Trump would be a ‘trainwreck’
Trump’s campaign office said Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s campaign manager, will fight the misdemeanor battery charge.
READ MORE: Donald Trump scrambles to address messy delegate fight
“Mr. Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge. He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court,” the campaign office said in a statement. “He is completely confident that he will be exonerated.”
The Associated Press obtained the Jupiter Police report regarding the March 8 incident.
WATCH: Donald Trump defends campaign manager following assault charge
The report includes an interview with Fields where she described the alleged incident.
“Lewandowski grabbed Fields’ left arm with his right hand causing her to turn and step back,” reads the report. Fields showed police her left forearm which “appeared to show a grabbing-type injury,” according to the investigating officer.
READ MORE: Nearly 50,000 people sign petition to allow guns at Republican convention
Trump took to Twitter Tuesday to defend his campaign manager.
“Wow, Corey Lewandowski, my campaign manager and a very decent man, was just charged with assaulting a reporter. Look at tapes-nothing there!” Trump said.
“Why aren’t people looking at this reporters earliest statement as to what happened, that is before she found out the episode was on tape?” Trump said in another tweet.
Fields was quick to respond to Trump’s comments.
“Because my story never changed. Seriously, just stop lying,” she tweeted.
Lewandowski’s lawyer issued a statement clarifying his client was not arrested.
“Mr. Lewandowski was issued a Notice to Appear and given a court date,” attorney Scott Richardson said. “He was not arrested. Mr. Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge.”
Lewandowski is scheduled to appear before a judge on May 4.
–with a file from The Associated Press
Comments