A spokeswoman for Donald Trump on Thursday accused the reporter who alleged Trump’s campaign manager had manhandled her of setting a “bad precedent,” and said the allegation “actually hurts real cases of battery.”
Spokeswoman Katrina Pierson made that comment after state prosecutors in Palm Beach County, Florida announced they were dropping their investigation into the allegations that Corey Lewandowski grabbed reporter Michelle Fields’ arm at a campaign event last month.
“Anytime you see a woman claiming to be battered by a man, you should investigate, and that’s exactly what happened,” Pierson said on Fox Business Network, as quoted by The Hill. “Unfortunately, this was not the case, which actually hurts real cases of battery in this country, considering the magnitude and the scope of the publicity of this case.”
Fields, a former reporter for Breitbart News, alleged that Lewandowski grabbed her arm as she approached Trump to ask him a question at a March press conference, pulling her so roughly that she said he left bruises on her arm. Lewandowski initially denied that he grabbed Fields and accused her of seeking attention, even as her claims were backed up video evidence and other witnesses.
Local police charged Lewandowski with battery after Fields filed a complaint later that month. However, Palm Beach County state attorney David Aronberg announced Thursday that prosecutors would not pursue the charge because there was no “good faith basis” to move forward with state prosecution.
Pierson said it was “devastating” for Lewandowski to go through the process.
“I think it was mishandled initially by the person saying that she was battered,” Pierson added. “And then to demand an apology from someone who had no idea what she was talking about to begin with, I think, sets another bad precedent.”
