A woman was arrested Saturday after throwing a wine glass at Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
“The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is confirming reports that our agency responded to an incident at an event in Miramar Beach on Saturday involving Representative Matt Gaetz,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a post on Facebook. “A Tallahassee woman, Selena Chambers, 41, was arrested after responding deputies found she had intentionally thrown a wine glass at Rep. Gaetz after yelling obscenities at him. She was charged with assault on a elected official and posted a $1,000 bond. She was released the next day.”
According to the Pensacola News Journal, the woman was charged with one count of felony battery, as well as one count of assault on an elected official, which is a felony in the Sunshine State.
During an episode of his show “Firebrand,” Gaetz said the incident happened while he and his wife were at the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. Gaetz said the woman threw a drink at him and a man she had been talking to.
Gaetz plans to file a complaint. He pointed out that people have the right to express their opinion and even criticize public figures. “But if we start allowing things to be thrown or thrown, if we start allowing people to get hurt, there is a serious risk of escalation,” he warned.
u201cDuring: Tallahassee woman arrested and charged with assaulting Congressman Matt Gaetz Saturday evening, Gaetz issues statement in responsennu201cI will never allow the safety of Northwest Floridians to be compromised . I will press charges against this person under the orderu2026u201d
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@Rep. Matt Gaetz) 1683049348
CNN reported that according to a police report, Chambers claimed he “was walking and tripped and spilled his drink on Rep. Gaetz.”
“Blaine Odom said he was talking to Rep. Gaetz and saw Selena Chambers yelling at them. Chambers had a drink in her right hand. Chambers threw the container in the air and the drink from the drink went landing on Rep. Gaetz and Odom’s right shoulder,” the police report states, according to ABC News. “Chambers then walked away yelling and throwing him. Odom said he observed the drink fall on Rep. Gaetz and also on him. Odom said his clothes were soaked from the drink Chambers gave him launch. Odom said he wanted to press charges against Chambers.”
According to the Associated Press, defense attorney Matthew A. Karp stated that “the investigation has initially shown that Representative Gaetz has been both an aggressor and an agitator, and we expect to accept his deposition.” Karp also noted, “My client, Selena Chambers, maintains her innocence in this matter, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against Rep. Gaetz’s allegations.”
“I will never allow the safety of the residents of Northwest Florida to be compromised. I will press charges against this individual in order to maintain the civility our community deserves. Thank you to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office for taking swift action,” Gaetz said, according to a news release.
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