A county Democratic Party chairman in Florida faces criminal charges after allegedly striking a disabled veteran with a bullhorn during a weekend protest against the Trump administration’s policies.
Brian Stewart, 63, who chairs the Hernando County Democratic Party, was arrested Saturday and charged with simple battery, a misdemeanor under Florida law. He was processed at the Hernando County Sheriff’s Detention Center and released the same day, according to official records.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of Mariner and Cortez boulevards in Spring Hill, where demonstrators had gathered as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protests. Deputies responded to reports of an altercation between Stewart and Thomas Michta, a disabled veteran who was walking through the demonstration area.
According to the arrest affidavit, Michta reported that he and Stewart became involved in an argument as he passed through the protest. He accused Stewart of striking him with a bullhorn during their dispute. Deputies observed a visible lump on Michta’s head, and he reported being in pain from the alleged assault.
Video footage captured by a witness and reviewed by law enforcement showed Stewart using the bullhorn to strike the man in the head and subsequently pushing him in the chest. After examining the video evidence, witness statements, and Stewart’s own admissions, deputies determined they had probable cause to believe Stewart intentionally struck Michta and caused bodily harm.
Stewart maintains he acted in self-defense and denies being the aggressor in the confrontation. He characterized the protest as a peaceful community event that was disrupted by an individual seeking to provoke attendees.
“This was a peaceful event attended by many members of the community,” Stewart stated. “Unfortunately, an individual disrupted that environment and was harassing rally attendees in an attempt to elicit a reaction.”
Stewart insisted he is not a violent person and did not initiate or escalate the conflict. “I never expected that I’d be accosted or need to defend myself as I did in that moment,” he said.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for Democrats as they navigate their response to Trump administration policies while preparing for upcoming political contests. The “No Kings” demonstrations have taken place in communities across the nation, generally proceeding without significant incident.
Stewart declined to provide additional details about the confrontation, citing advice from his legal counsel. “I have many more thoughts to share, but my lawyers advise that I should defer doing so until after the case has concluded,” he said. “Out of respect for the legal process and on the advice of counsel, I will not be making further public statements at this time.”
The case now proceeds through the Florida court system, where Stewart will face the misdemeanor battery charge. The outcome could have implications not only for his legal standing but also for his position as a local party leader during an election year.
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