Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) says he is “outraged beyond words” after a left-wing mob knocked unconscious a 71-year-old staffer at his Huntington Beach office during a protest on Valentine’s Day. Activists from a group called Indivisible OC said they were simply delivering Valentine’s Day cards when the “unfortunate” accident occurred.
Happy Valentine's Day, @DanaRohrabacher!#resist #standindivisible pic.twitter.com/i2IPNvmLe6
— Indivisible OC (@indivisible_oc) February 14, 2017
Happy Valentines Day from @DanaRohrabacher's office! pic.twitter.com/288DsWwWGR
— Indivisible OC (@indivisible_oc) February 14, 2017
“Indivisible” is a nationwide protest movement launched by disgruntled ex-Democratic aides after the devastating 2016 election. According to Politico, their goal was to “channel their post-election heartbreak into a manual for quashing President Donald Trump’s agenda.”
On Tuesday, the president’s agenda wasn’t the only thing that was “quashed.”
According to CBS News, the alleged assault on Rohrabacher’s district director, Kathleen Staunton, happened as she was trying to exit through the front door of his office to visit the restroom.
The police were called to the scene but made no arrests.
A video posted by the group on YouTube shows the door opening and knocking over a 2-year-old child who had been placing a “valentine” in front of the door. Lola, the child who was hit by the door, was not injured. The video cuts off before Mrs. Staunton is knocked over and hits her head.
ICYMI: @DanaRohrabacher's staff opened a door into a two year old "political thug" yesterday afternoon.
Happy Valentine's Day.#resist pic.twitter.com/p1esPXWsIl
— Indivisible OC (@indivisible_oc) February 15, 2017
Staunton, who has managed Rohrabacher’s office since his first term in 1989, was treated by paramedics and taken to a local hospital, Rohrabacher said.
“I am outraged beyond words that protesters who mobbed my Huntington Beach office violently knocked down my faithful district director, Kathleen Staunton, causing her to be hospitalized,” Rohrabacher said in a statement. “And, yes, deliberate or not, the incident came as part of a mob action that not only intimidates but coerces. Though the protesters think of themselves as idealists, they engaged in political thuggery, pure and simple.”
Rohrabacher said the group went to his office to demand a town hall meeting with him even though he was working in Washington, D.C., with the House of Representatives.
Regarding the "tussle" at @DanaRohrabacher's office:https://t.co/3J0yEX0lK7 pic.twitter.com/G6RGdbiYm6
— Indivisible OC (@indivisible_oc) February 15, 2017
Invisible OC issued a statement on its website:
When Megan Blash and her 2-year-old daughter, Lola, arrived at Rep. Dana Rohrabacher’s office to hand deliver a Valentine’s Day card, they were met with a shut and locked door. Rep. Rohrabacher’s disdain for visiting constituents led to Lola sliding her card under his door, which led to a staffer, Kathleen Staunton, accidentally opening the door on Lola’s head and Ms. Staunton’s unfortunate fall. Police were present and no arrests were made.
The accidents that occurred to Lola and Ms. Staunton would not have happened had Rep. Rohrabacher’s office simply been open for his constituents, plain and simple.
Democrats believe Rohrabacher holds one of the most vulnerable seats in Congress, which is why they’re already launching an aggressive campaign to unseat him. The St. Valentine’s Day Debacle at Rohrabacher’s office in Huntington Beach certainly won’t help in that effort.
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