USA Election | Incident at Trump Rally in Johnstown
During Donald Trump's rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a man charged into the press area while the former president was speaking on Friday, causing a chaotic scene. The intruder vaulted over a bicycle rack and began climbing the press riser near Trump. Law enforcement officers, including police and sheriff's deputies, quickly surrounded the individual and subdued him using a Taser.
Trump then criticized major media organizations for what he called biased coverage, particularly mocking CNN for its interview with him. This incident comes shortly after a recent assassination attempt on Trump, where a bullet grazed his ear in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The police chief of Johnstown, Richard M. Pritchard, confirmed to the Associated Press on Saturday that the man had been arrested, released, and would be officially charged next week. Mr. Pritchard stated that the man, whose identity will be revealed when charges are filed, will face misdemeanors in municipal court for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and disrupting a public gathering.
Mr. Pritchard, who was not directly involved in the arrest, declined to speculate on the man's motivations.
Fierce media criticism is an integral part of Donald Trump's speeches at rallies, and his supporters often respond by turning to the press section and booing; some raising their middle fingers to show their disdain for journalists. Mr. Trump's campaign team attempted to distance the former president from the man and his actions, even suggesting that he was an opponent of the Republican candidate.
"Witnesses, including some members of the press, described a crazy individual shouting obscenities at President Trump," said Danielle Alvarez, senior campaign advisor. "His aggression was directed at the president and towards the stage as he entered the press area."
Ms. Alvarez did not identify the witnesses she cited nor explain what the man might have shouted. She added that the campaign team appreciates the swift response of local law enforcement and the Secret Service. Shortly after the incident, police handcuffed another man in the crowd and escorted him out of the arena. It is not immediately clear if this detention was related to the initial altercation.
The incident occurred against a backdrop of heightened security scrutiny at Donald Trump's rallies after a man armed with a gunshot at him, grazing his ear, during an outdoor rally in July in Butler, Pennsylvania. Security at political events has been significantly increased since the shooting.
Uchaguzi wa Marekani: hofu mpya ya mauaji kwa Trump: mtu aliyepigwa na taser; wasiwasi katika mkutano
Wakati wa mkutano wa Donald Trump huko Johnstown, Pennsylvania, mwanaume alikimbilia eneo la waandishi wa habari wakati rais huyo wa zamani alikuwa akizungumza Ijumaa, na kusababisha hali ya machafuko. Mshambuliaji aliruka juu ya uzio wa baiskeli na kuanza kupanda jukwaa la waandishi wa habari karibu na Trump. Maafisa wa sheria, ikiwa ni pamoja na polisi na naibu wa sheriff, walimzunguka haraka mtu huyo na kumdhibiti kwa kutumia Taser.
Trump kisha alikosoa mashirika makubwa ya habari kwa kile alichokiita uandishi wa habari wenye upendeleo, akicheka hasa CNN kwa mahojiano yake naye. Tukio hili linakuja muda mfupi baada ya jaribio la hivi karibuni la mauaji dhidi ya Trump, ambapo risasi iligusa sikio lake huko Butler, Pennsylvania.
Kamanda wa polisi wa Johnstown, Richard M. Pritchard, alithibitisha kwa Associated Press Jumamosi kwamba mwanaume huyo alikuwa amekamatwa, kuachiliwa, na atakabiliwa rasmi na mashtaka wiki ijayo. Bwana Pritchard alisema kwamba mwanaume huyo, ambaye jina lake litafichuliwa wakati mashtaka yatakapowekwa, atakabiliwa na makosa madogo katika mahakama ya manispaa kwa kuleta machafuko, kupinga kukamatwa, na kuvuruga mkutano wa umma.
Bwana Pritchard, ambaye hakuwa na ushirikiano wa moja kwa moja katika kukamatwa, alikataa kufikiria kuhusu sababu za mwanaume huyo.
Ukosoaji mkali wa vyombo vya habari ni sehemu muhimu ya hotuba za Donald Trump katika mikutano, na wafuasi wake mara nyingi hujibu kwa kugeukia sehemu ya waandishi wa habari na kupiga kelele; wengine wakinyoosha vidole vyao vya kati kuonyesha dhihaka yao kwa waandishi wa habari. Timu ya kampeni ya Bwana Trump ilijaribu kujitenga na rais wa zamani na vitendo vyake, hata ikionyesha kuwa alikuwa mpinzani wa mgombea wa Republican.
"Mashahidi, ikiwa ni pamoja na baadhi ya wanahabari, walielezea mtu aliye kuwa na hasira akipiga kelele matusi kwa Rais Trump," alisema Danielle Alvarez, mshauri mkuu wa kampeni. "Ukatili wake ulikuwa unalenga rais na kuelekea jukwaani wakati alipoingia katika eneo la waandishi wa habari."
Bi. Alvarez hakutaja mashahidi aliowataja wala kuelezea kile mwanaume huyo angeweza kupiga kelele. Aliongeza kuwa timu ya kampeni inathamini majibu ya haraka ya maafisa wa sheria wa eneo hilo na Huduma ya Siri. Saa chache baada ya tukio hilo, polisi walimfunga pingu mwanaume mwingine katika umati na kumtoa nje ya uwanja. Haijulikani mara moja kama kukamatwa huku kulihusiana na ugumu wa awali.
Tukio hilo lilitokea katika muktadha wa uangalizi mkali wa usalama wakati wa mikutano ya Donald Trump baada ya mwanaume aliyejihami kwa bunduki kumshambulia, akimkwaruza sikio, wakati wa mkutano wa nje mnamo Julai huko Butler, Pennsylvania. Usalama katika matukio ya kisiasa umeimarishwa kwa kiasi kikubwa tangu shambulio hilo.
