NATIONAL NEWS

Police Investigating Whether Trump Campaign Volunteers Were Targeted In Van Incident

Feb 9, 2020, 12:44 PM

Gregory Timm (Jacksonville Sheriff's Office)...

Gregory Timm (Jacksonville Sheriff's Office)

(Jacksonville Sheriff's Office)

(CNN) –– Law enforcement officials have arrested a man they say drove a van through a tent in a Walmart parking lot Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida, where Trump campaign volunteers were registering people to vote.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s office arrested Gregory Timm, the office said in a series of tweets early Sunday. He faces charges including aggravated assault, criminal mischief and driving on a suspended driver’s license.

The local sheriff’s office is investigating whether the incident was politically motivated. There were no injuries reported.

Six Trump campaign volunteers say they were targeted while getting out the vote, according to the Duval County Republican Party and the Trump reelection campaign.

Lt. Larry Gayle of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office told CNN affiliate WJXT that at some point after the man driving the van stopped, he recorded a video and “flipped off” the people inside the tent before driving away.

CNN has reached out to the sheriff’s office for comment.

“We don’t know if this is politically motivated,” Gayle told WJXT.

The Duval County GOP, in a series of tweets, says at approximately 2:45 p.m., a brown and gold van driven by a man accelerated toward a crowd of volunteers in a tent registering people. The party said the volunteers narrowly avoided being injured after the van drove through the tent hitting a table.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry called the incident “outrageous” and said the “hate is toxic and dangerous.”

Although police have not determined the motivation of the incident, GOP leaders, including President Donald Trump, swiftly weighed in on social media.

Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh wrote in a tweet Saturday, “This is reckless intimidation & someone could have easily been killed.”

Trump wrote in a Saturday tweet, “Law Enforcement has been notified. Be careful tough guys who you play with.”

The president of the Duval County Democratic Party also released a statement condemning the attack.

“The Duval County Democratic Party condemns this cowardly act of violence,” Daniel Henry wrote. “No one’s life should be placed in danger for exercising their first amendment rights. As Democrats, but more importantly, as residents of this great city of Jacksonville, we call on our fellow citizens to act with dignity, civility and respect for one another during this election cycle and beyond. We look forward to JSO’s arrest of the perpetrator.”

Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott posted on Twitter that he was thankful no one was hurt.

“This appears to be a politically-motivated attack on hard-working volunteers in Duval County. Thankful that no one was hurt. @DuvalGOP will not be silenced or intimidated. They will redouble their efforts to support strong Republicans in NE Florida and around the state!”

Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio echoed those sentiments in a tweet, “Thanking God that no one was injured in today’s politically motivated attack against @DuvalGOP volunteers today.”

KSL 5 TV Live

National News

...

Associated Press

Cicadas are so noisy in a South Carolina county that residents are calling the police

Emerging cicadas are so loud in one South Carolina county that residents are calling the sheriff's office asking why they can hear sirens or a loud roar.

13 minutes ago

FILE - Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in court at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Crimina...

MIchael Sisak

New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial

New York’s highest court has overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction.

6 hours ago

Rudy Giuliani, the former personal lawyer for former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks to the pre...

Jacques Billeaud, Jonathan J. Cooper and Josh Kelety

Arizona indicts 18 in election interference case, including Giuliani and Meadows

An Arizona grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and 16 others in an election interference case related to the 2020 presidential vote.

7 hours ago

FILE - Travis Scott performs at the Astroworld Music Festival in Houston, Nov. 5, 2021. A Texas gra...

Juan A. Lozano, Associated Press

Judge declines to dismiss lawsuits filed against rapper Travis Scott over concert that killed 10

A judge has declined to dismiss hundreds of lawsuits filed against rap star Travis Scott over his role in the deadly 2021 Astroworld festival in which 10 people were killed in a crowd surge.

7 hours ago

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA) attends a news conference at Colum...

Haley Talbot, Lauren Fox and Clare Foran, CNN

Johnson calls on Columbia University president to resign during tense news conference

House Speaker Mike Johnson called on Columbia University’s president to resign Wednesday during a tense news conference.

20 hours ago

A Ford sign is shown at a dealership in Springfield, Pa., Tuesday, April 26, 2022. Ford is recallin...

Chris Isidore, CNN

Ford just reported a massive loss on every electric vehicle it sold

Ford’s electric vehicle unit reported that losses soared in the first quarter to $1.3 billion, or $132,000 for each of the 10,000 vehicles it sold in the first three months of the year, helping to drag down earnings for the company overall.

21 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Police Investigating Whether Trump Campaign Volunteers Were Targeted In Van Incident