Charge urged against girl, 15, at Trump rally
JANESVILLE, Wis. — Investigators said Thursday that they’re recommending a disorderly conduct charge be filed against a 15-year-old girl who was peppersprayed after she punched a man at a rally for Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump in Wisconsin.
Video shows a crowd Tuesday in a parking lot outside the rally in Janesville. The girl can be seen holding an anti-Trump sign and arguing with a man.
The video shows the man turning away with his hands in the air. Seconds later, the girl punches him in the face. Another man wearing a red Trump hat then pepper-sprayed the girl and disappeared into the crowd.
The girl told police the first man groped her breast. But Chief David Moore told reporters Thursday that additional video doesn’t show any evidence the man, 59, groped her and 12 witnesses said they didn’t see him do anything.
Moore said the man who was punched didn’t want to press assault charges, but investigators have recommended juvenile authorities charge her with disorderly conduct for what he called “an act of violence.”
He said time passed between the alleged groping and the punching and the man and the girl were several feet apart when she threw the punch.
“Clearly her punch was illegal,” he said.
The chief said investigators won’t pursue charges of filing a false police report against the girl. He said she believes she felt pressure on her breast. However, he said, quarters were tight and people were brushing up against one another.
Neither authorities nor The Associated Press are naming the girl because she is a juvenile.
The man who peppersprayed her remains at large and could face misdemeanor battery charges, police said.