Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump’s campaign manager, was charged this morning (Mar. 29) with misdemeanor battery against Michelle Fields, a 28-year-old reporter formerly with Breitbart, the conservative news site.
The incident occurred after a Mar. 8 press conference at the Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida. Fields alleges she was roughly grabbed on the arm by Lewandowski after asking the candidate a question about affirmative action. She later tweeted photos of bruises on her arm.
Fields eventually resigned from Breitbart, accusing the site of siding with Trump and not backing her version of events. Several other Breitbart staff members also quit in protest.
Lewandowski has denied the allegations, calling Fields “totally delusional.” He turned himself in at the Jupiter police station at 8:00 am Eastern time, according to The Palm Beach Post. Trump’s spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, 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.”
Surveillance footage from the event at Trump National Golf Club appears to corroborate Fields’s account, according to the Palm Beach Post, as have eyewitness accounts from other journalists who were present.