A Florida man, Andrew Francis, was arrested on Monday for simple battery after an altercation at an early voting site in Pinellas County involving the campaign manager of U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla. The incident occurred outside the county courthouse in Clearwater over the weekend. Although the woman who was struck by Francis was not named by law enforcement, Luna confirmed on her social media that the victim was her campaign manager.
According to Clearwater police, Francis exhibited aggressive behavior and used verbal obscenities towards a political group as he walked towards the crosswalk outside the courthouse on Saturday. He then intentionally struck the victim with his shoulder, causing her to lose her balance. The arrest affidavit stated that the altercation was between Francis and Rep. Luna’s campaign manager.
Luna, who is currently running for re-election against Whitney Fox, attributed the attack on her campaign manager to her opponent’s rhetoric, calling it “irresponsible and desperate.” She mentioned on Facebook that Francis had shaken hands with Fox’s father before assaulting her campaign manager, and that the incident was captured on footage. In response, Fox expressed her concern for Luna’s staffer and condemned the false claims linking the incident to her campaign, emphasizing the need to reduce political tensions in the country.
Whitney Fox also shared a personal experience where her father was threatened while canvassing, highlighting the growing chaos and division in American politics. She stressed the importance of de-escalating conflicts and ending the common occurrence of such violent encounters.
After posting a $500 bond, Andrew Francis was released from jail early Tuesday morning. There has been no official statement yet from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office or Whitney Fox regarding the incident. It is crucial for all parties involved to address the situation responsibly and work towards fostering a more peaceful political environment.
