News / Politics

Trump's campaign manager charged with assault

Tuesday, 29 March 2016 3:56 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 30 March 2016 1:44 PM ]

Corey Lewandowski, campaign manager for 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. (Getty Images)

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign manager has been arrested in Florida and charged with simple assault in connection with an incident happened earlier this month, police records show.

Police in Jupiter, Florida, said Corey Lewandowski was charged on Tuesday for grabbing and bruising the arm of Michelle Fields, a reporter for Breitbart News, as she tried to ask Trump a question during a March 8 campaign event.

Police issued Lewandowski a notice to appear in court May 4.

"Lewandowski grabbed Fields' left arm with his right hand causing her to turn and step back,” the Jupiter Police Department report said.

Fields showed police her left forearm which "appeared to show a grabbing-type injury," according to the investigating officer.

"Mr. Lewandowski was issued a Notice to Appear and was given a court date. He was not arrested," the Trump campaign said in a statement. "Mr. Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge. He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court. He is completely confident that he will be exonerated."

Police released a video which appears to show Lewandowski reaching his left hand between Trump and a security guard and toward Fields, holding her back as he passed her and continued following the billionaire through the room.

The footage can be seen here.

Trump tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that the video shows "nothing there" in the incident.

Lewandowski also strongly denied the authenticity of the incident. "@MichelleFields you are totally delusional. I never touched you," he tweeted. "As a matter of fact, I have never even met you."

However, Fields reportedly showed police "bruising from what appeared to be several finger marks indicating a grabbing type injury," according to AFP.

Trump, who has never held elected office, is currently leading the race for the Republican presidential nomination. His campaign has been marked by controversial statements, including disparaging remarks about women, Mexican immigrants and Muslims.

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