PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Police in Kentucky have served a criminal summons to a white nationalist group leader accused of harassing protesters at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Louisville last year, according to a city official.
Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn said Monday that a city police officer served the summons to Matthew Heimbach on Saturday after he marched with white nationalist groups in the eastern Kentucky city. The summons accuses Heimbach of harassment without injury and orders him to appear in Jefferson District Court.
Heimbach told The Associated Press he believes the case is the product of a “huge social media campaign” by “anti-fascists” and “far-left activists.”
“This is a completely politically motivated charge,” he said. “I believe 110 percent that I followed all laws. I acted reasonably.”
Heimbach also faces a lawsuit over the allegations. Three people filed a lawsuit last year against Trump, his campaign, Heimbach and another man. They say they were shoved and punched by audience members at Trump’s command. Video widely broadcast during the campaign showed Trump pointing at protesters and repeating the words “get them out.”
Heimbach has countersued the president, saying he was acting on Trump’s words.
Heimbach is chairman of the Traditionalist Worker Party. On its website, the group described its members as “unapologetically nationalists, fighting to secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.”
Heimbach said he doesn’t have a criminal record or even a traffic ticket in his past, and looks forward to “putting this whole thing to bed.”
He provided the AP with a photo of the complaint, which says the alleged victim — “due to a video” — thought she may have been stuck by a needle. No marks were found, but the woman was taking “preventative medicine,” the complaint says.
“One of the main things I’m accused of literally didn’t happen,” he said of the needle allegation.
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