Law enforcement officials in Florida have launched an investigation into whether security for Rep. Val Demings (D-FL), who is running to try to unseat Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), broke the law by shoving a man to the ground at a political event.
The investigation by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office centers around a video clip obtained by Florida Politics that shows two men pushing another man during a meet-and-greet event earlier this month. Security blocked the man from entering the public Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park where the event was being held.
The report noted that the man appeared to be a video tracker, which is someone who follows around politicians and asks them tough questions.
“Security officials take potential threats and threatening behavior toward the Chief seriously,” Christian Slater, communications director for Demings campaign, said in a statement to the publication without providing any proof that the man was a threat. “In this instance the individual did not respond to multiple requests to leave and charged at security personnel in pursuit of Chief Demings’ approaching vehicle.”
“Democrats want to defund the police but holy cow if you film them in public they’ll have their private security pummel you,” reporter Matthew Foldi tweeted along with footage of the incident.
WATCH:
Democrats want to defund the police but holy cow if you film them in public they’ll have their private security pummel you…ON CAMERA
Yikes from #FLSEN candidate @valdemings pic.twitter.com/3OLFJbDoUl
(1/2)
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) August 16, 2022
“Holy crap!!” Steve Guest, special adviser to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), responded on Twitter. “Florida Democrat Val Demings’ private security team just beat the crap out of a tracker… and yes, it’s on video. What’s not on video: the vehicle Demings’ campaign claims was approaching.”
A second clip later emerged that appeared to have been taken after the man was shoved to the ground.
“In corrections I used to balance people like you off their head in the jail,” a security member tells the man who was pushed.
“Except for I don’t do bad things,” the man responded. “I’m not one of those people. I’m just doing my job. That’s it. I’ve been good to you guys.”
“Don’t touch me,” the security guard says. “Oh my god.”
“I’ve been so good, and y’all are just being ridiculous sometimes,” the man responded. “I just want to be even keel.”
“Let’s be even keel right now,” the security guard said. “So don’t take it personal, alright.”
“No I’m not,” the man responded. “Everything that just happened, we’re good.”
“Going forward don’t take it personal,” the security guard repeated.
“Take what personal?” the man asked.
“What’s going to happen to you,” the security guard answered.
WATCH:
Here's the second part of the scuffle in which one of Val Demmings' security guys tells a video tracker after shoving him to the ground "In corrections, I used to bounce people like you off their head in the jail.” pic.twitter.com/00fcY1Khbp
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 16, 2022