A man is facing multiple charges after storming into and interrupting former President Donald Trump’s rally in Johnstown, PA on Friday (August 30).
On Saturday (August 31), police in Johnstown said a man — whose identity will be disclosed upon charges being formally filed — will face several misdemeanor charges after storming into the press area at Donald Trump’s rally, before being surrounded by authorities and eventually subdued with a taser as Trump was on stage speaking to the crowd.
Reportedly, the storming incident occurred moments after the Republican presidential candidate criticized several major media outlets over “unfavorable coverage.” Donald Trump also slammed CNN over their recent sit-down with his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz; which marked the first interview VP Harris participated in as an official presidential candidate in the 2024 election.
Police in Pennsylvania said that it was not immediately clear what motivated the man to interrupt Trump’s rally and storm the press area. Authorities also are unclear about whether the man was a Trump supporter or critic. However, it’s reported that staffers from the Trump campaign attempted to distance the former President from the man and his actions, seemingly suggesting that he was an opponent.
Campaign Senior Adviser Danielle Alvarez said, “Witnesses, including some in the press corps, described a crazed individual shouting expletives at President Trump. His aggression was focused on the president and towards the stage as he entered the press area.” Alvarez neglected to share what the man was shouting out but did thank the quick response of the local law enforcement officials and the U.S. Secret Service.
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Video footage from the incident has since gone viral on social media and shows the man making his way over a barrier and into the area designated for media and press. Once over the barrier, he continued climbing the back side of a riser where TV reporters and cameras were positioned.
Footage showed people near the man attempting to intervene and pull him down off the riser. Police officers and Sheriff’s Deputies then joined the other civilians as they all attempted to subdue the man. Once authorities had the man in custody and walked him out of the Trump rally, the crowd roared in cheers. Despite Donald Trump’s Campaign Senior Adviser Danielle Alvarez claiming the man may not have been an ally, Trump reacted to the commotion and said he believed he was.
Speaking with The Associated Press on Saturday following the incident, Johnstown Police Chief Richard M. Pritchard said the man was arrested, released, and will be formally charged this week. Chief Pritchard said the man would be hit with several misdemeanor charges in municipal court for alleged disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and disrupting a public assembly. The incident arrives nearly two months after a gunman fired at Donald Trump, grazing his ear, during an outdoor rally in nearby Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
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