Illinois Lawmaker’s Daughter Charged In Staple-Gun Attack On Mom’s Opponent

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The daughter of an Illinois state representative, as well as a campaign volunteer, are both facing charges after allegedly attacking the lawmaker’s opponent with a staple gun earlier this month, The Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.

Jessica Soto, the daughter of state Rep. Cynthia Soto (D), and Bradley Fichter allegedly attacked failed House candidate Robert Zwolinksi outside his campaign office on March 6, according to the report. Zwolinski told the newspaper that Fichter held Zwolinski down while Soto stapled his head and screamed “this isn’t your territory.”

Police say the two assailants also hit Zwolinski with a bottle, according to the report.

“My common sense intuition said no way it would be her daughter because that in itself sounds so extreme,” Zwolinski told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Before going to the hospital and having his wounds treated, Zwolinski decided to hold a news conference and snap a picture to post Twitter, calling politics a “contact sport.” The image is graphic:

Soto and Fichter were taken into custody Wednesday and charged with three felony counts of aggravated battery each, while Fichter faces an additional charge of filing a false police report, according to the Sun-Times.

Zwolinski ultimately lost his bid for the state House seat, but is now calling on Cynthia Soto to resign that seat.

“My wounds will heal a lot faster than the ones she’s inflicted on our state,” he said in a press conference.

Fichter and Soto were scheduled to appear in bond court Friday.

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