A physical altercation at an early voting site in Pinellas County over the weekend led to the arrest of a Florida man on Monday. The incident involved the campaign manager of U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla.
Pinellas County Jail records show that Andrew Francis, 32, was arrested on Monday evening for simple battery, a misdemeanor offense.
According to a report by FOX 13 Tampa Bay, Francis allegedly struck the woman with his shoulder outside the county courthouse in Clearwater on Saturday, where one of the early voting sites was located.
While the woman’s identity was not disclosed by law enforcement, Luna confirmed on her campaign’s social media that the victim was her campaign manager.
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Andrew Francis, 32, was arrested Monday for allegedly striking the campaign manager of U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., at an early voting site over the weekend. (Pinellas County Jail via FOX 13)
Clearwater police reported that Francis exhibited aggressive behavior and used verbal obscenities towards an opposing political group while heading towards the courthouse’s crosswalk on Saturday morning.
He reportedly made physical contact with two individuals from the opposing group and intentionally struck the victim with his shoulder, causing her to lose balance, as per an arrest affidavit reviewed by FOX 13.
The incident between Francis and Rep. Luna’s campaign manager took place outside the Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater, Florida, on Saturday. (REUTERS/Octavio Jones)
Luna, who is currently running for re-election against Whitney Fox, attributed the attack on her campaign manager to her opponent’s “irresponsible and desperate rhetoric.”
Luna stated on Facebook, “This is the man that assaulted my female campaign manager. He has been arrested! He shook hands with Whitney Fox’s father before assaulting my CM. It’s on the footage. Whitney Fox’s irresponsible and desperate rhetoric is what caused this.”
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U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., (left) who is running for re-election in Florida’s 13th Congressional district, blamed her opponent Whitney Fox (right) for the attack on her campaign manager. (House of Representatives / Whitney Fox for Congress)
Fox expressed disappointment at the incident involving Luna’s staff member and personally conveyed her concerns for the victim’s well-being. She criticized Luna’s accusations, stating, “It’s reckless for Luna to falsely claim that this has anything to do with me or my campaign.”
She added, “It’s important that we find ways to turn down the temperature in American politics. My own father was recently threatened with an axe while canvassing. The chaos and division must end, as situations like this have become all too common.”
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Francis was released from custody at 12:42 a.m. on Tuesday after posting a $500 bond.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and Whitney Fox for statements.
