In response to the reports the charges would be dropped, Fields tweeted: “Prosecutor’s office told me they would inform me of decision tomorrow”.
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Despite images clearly showing Lewandowski intentionally grabbing Fields’ arm against her will, Aronberg said, “They do not outweigh the reasonable hypothesis of innocence based on the real-time facts and circumstances recorded on the video”.
“This office will not be filing charges against Corey Lewandwoski for battery”, Palm Beach County state prosecutor David Aronberg said during a lengthy press conference announcing the decision.
Donald Trump’s campaign manager will not be prosecuted over a run-in he had with a reporter last month. “No, not anymore”, he said when asked if he would honour his previous pledge.
The Internet news site Politico, however, reported that Fields could still sue Lewandowski for defamation.
“Trump also claimed Fields grabbed him, and he disputed the charge that Lewandowski bruised Fields, saying “wouldn’t you think she would have yelled out a scream if she had bruises on her arm?” He then tried to frame himself as the victim, saying Fields could have been holding a “little bomb” (she was holding a pen).
Lewandowski was charged last month with one misdemeanor count of battery. The prosecutor says he spoke with the Republican presidential candidate about the case, but it didn’t have any bearing on the decision.
Although Lewandowski’s act wasn’t criminal, Aronberg said there may have been an easy way to defuse things.
Mr Lewandowski tweeted that he “never touched” the reporter, calling her “totally delusional”.
Aronberg said Thursday that Lewandowski’s lawyer had submitted a draft of a short apology this week but declined to describe it in detail.
The prosecutor also said Lewandowski could have signaled to Secret Service agents if he thought Fields was a threat, and he could’ve apologized. But he added, “had an apology been given at the beginning of all this, we could have avoided this mess”.
The Palm Beach County state attorney’s office said in the document Thursday that they wouldn’t pursue charges against campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.
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State attorneys are elected in Florida.
