LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A volunteer with Rand Paul's Republican U.S. Senate campaign apologized Tuesday for stepping on the head of a liberal activist who tried to confront the tea party candidate with a fake award.
Paul supporter Tim Profitt said video of the scuffle made it appear worse than it was and he chided police for not stepping in. Lauren Valle, the 23-year-old activist with the group MoveOn.org, said her face was swollen and her neck and shoulder were sore after she was wrestled to the ground by Paul supporters Monday night when she tried to give the candidate an "employee of the month" award.
Valle was roughed up before the debate between Paul and Democrat Jack Conway. The race is one of the most closely watched and hotly contested in the midterm elections.
"I'm sorry that it came to that, and I apologize if it appeared overly forceful, but I was concerned about Rand's safety," Profitt told The Associated Press.
Video recorded by WDRB shows Valle's blonde wig being pulled off before she's pinned to the ground. Profitt then pushes his foot down on her head.
"I think that this is an extreme example of the kinds of sentiments that people are feeling in many races across the country," Valle said. "I think that tension is incredibly high."
Paul's campaign dropped Profitt as campaign coordinator in Bourbon County in central Kentucky and banned him from future events.
Profitt said he was interviewed by a Lexington police detective Tuesday, but that he had not been charged.
"A friend of mine went up to three policeman before Rand got there, and told them about the girl who was standing there with that wig on and that she was getting ready to do something," Profitt said. "The policemen looked at him and said that's not our job."
Paul campaign manager Jesse Benton said Profitt's actions were unacceptable and would not be tolerated.
"The Paul campaign has disassociated itself with the individual who took part in this incident, and once again urges all activists - on both sides - to remember that their political passions should never manifest themselves in physical altercations of any kind."
Paul's campaign called the altercation "incredibly unfortunate" and expressed relief that the woman was not injured.
Conway said he was shocked to see the video footage.
"We can disagree on issues, and I don't know what preceded the incident, but physical violence by a man against a woman must never be tolerated," Conway said in a statement. "It is my hope that steps have been taken to ensure this kind of thuggish behavior never happens again in this campaign."
Poster Comment:
Thrown under the bus for stomping a lib.
