Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/659323
ByStevePeoplesand Terry Spencer TheAssociatedPress FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. Police charged Donald Trump's campaign man- ager with simple battery Tuesday as a videotaped altercation with a reporter transformed what was an- other messy campaign sideshow into a criminal court summons. Jupiter, Florida, police determined that probable cause existed to charge Corey Lewandowski, who has served as Trump's most trusted political ad- viser for much of the past year. Police on Tuesday morning issued Lewan- dowski a notice to appear before a judge on May 4 for the misdemeanor charge, which carries up to a year in jail. This injects a court bat- tle into an already conten- tious Republican primary season just a week before a high-profile election in Wisconsin. The Trump campaign released a statement de- claring Lewandowski "ab- solutely innocent of this charge." "He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks for- ward to his day in court," said the statement. "He is completely confident that he will be exonerated." Police charged Lewan- dowski after reviewing a surveillance video of the incident, obtained from security at the Trump- owned property. Police determined that the video shows Lewandowski grab- bing Michelle Fields, who worked for Breitbart News at the time, as she tried to ask Trump a question dur- ing a March 8 campaign event. Trump, meanwhile, re- leased a series of tweets reversing a previous po- sition that the incident never happened, hinting instead that he feared for his safety. "Why is this reporter touching me as I leave a news conference? What is in her hand??" Trump tweeted along with a pic- ture that appears to show the young reporter hold- ing a pen. "Why is she allowed to grab me and shout questions? Can I press charges?" he wrote, call- ing Lewandowski "a very decent man." Fields shot back on Twitter: "My story never changed. Seriously, just stop lying." The New York busi- nessman's rivals seized on the news, which comes a week before a Wiscon- sin primary contest that could give Trump an in- surmountable delegate lead or give his opponents new hope of a contested national convention. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said the incident is "the consequence of the culture of the Trump campaign — the abusive culture when you have a campaign that is built on personal in- sults, on attacks and now physical violence." "That has no place in a political campaign, it has no place in our democ- racy," Cruz told reporters as he campaigned in Wis- consin, suggesting that "it helps clarify for the voters what the Trump campaign is all about." POLITICS Policecharge Trump campaign manager with simple battery By Alan Fram The Associated Press WASHINGTON Mark Kirk on Tuesday became the first Republican senator to meet with Supreme Court nomi- nee Merrick Garland, criti- cizing GOP leaders' refusal to hold confirmation hear- ings or a vote on the long- time federal judge and praising him as "one of the most eminent jurists in the country." There was no sign the session would erode Sen- ate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's insistence on leaving the vacancy un- filled until President Barack Obama's replacement names a selection next year. Even so, Kirk's 20-minute session with Garland pro- vided Democrats with a vi- sual image — and words — that they hope will pressure other Republican senators to end their blockade. "I think when you just say I'm not going to meet with him and all, that's too closed-minded," Kirk told reporters, all but explicitly rebuking McConnell, R-Ky. Kirk, who represents Democratic-leaning Illinois, is perhaps the most imper- iled Senate Republican fac- ing re-election in Novem- ber. And when it comes to the battle over Obama's pick to fill the court vacancy, Kirk has been one of the earliest and most outspo- ken outliers. He's one of just three Senate Republicans to say the Senate Judiciary Com- mittee should hold hear- ings on Garland. And he's one of two GOP senators — along with Susan Collins, R-Maine — to say the full chamber should vote on the nominee, saying Tuesday he would "obviously" consider voting for him. The death last month of conservative Justice An- tonin Scalia created the court opening, and Obama is pressing to make his third appointment to the high court. "By leading by example, I'm showing what a ratio- nal, responsible guy would do that really wants the constitutional process to go forward," Kirk said. Kirk had an additional incentive to be hospita- ble to Garland: The long- time federal judge and for- mer prosecutor is originally from Chicago. SUPREME COURT NOMINEE Garland holds first meeting with GOP senator J.SCOTTAPPLEWHITE—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, arrives for a visit with Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., the only Republican senator to meet the embattled nominee, Tuesday in Washington. By Sam Hananel The Associated Press WASHINGTON In the clear- est sign yet of the impact of Justice Antonin Scal- ia's death, U.S. labor unions scored a major victory Tues- day with a tie vote in a high- profile Supreme Court case theyhadonceseemedallbut certain to lose. The4-4split,inacasethat sharply divided the court's liberal union supporters and their conservative op- ponents, demonstrated how much is riding on President Barack Obama's effort to re- place Scalia with a judge who could tilt the balance on the high court for years to come. Senate Republicans say they won't consider any nominationuntilanewpres- ident takes office. The vacancy helped the liberals this time. The dead- locked vote came in a case that considered whether unions representing gov- ernment employees can col- lect fees from workers who choosenottojoin.California teachers backed by a con- servative group said being forced to pay union fees vio- lated the free-speech rights of nonmembers who dis- agree with the union's pol- icy positions. The split vote left in place an appeals court ruling that upheld the collection of "fair share" fees from nonmem- bers. The result was an un- likely reprieve for organized labor. It had seemed virtu- ally certain that the high court would rule 5-4 to over- turn a system that's been in place nearly 40 years. But the court now is operating with only eight justices af- ter the Feb. 13 death of Sca- lia, who had been expected to rule against the unions. The one-sentence opinion issued Tuesday did not iden- tify how each justice voted. It simply upheld a decision from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. But it was a blow to con- servative groups that have spent years pushing the courttooverrulea1977prec- edent that allows unions to collect fees from members and non-members alike to cover the costs of collective bargaining. Union officials feared a ruling barring the fees would threaten mem- bership and further weaken the clout of unions, which are major supporters of Democratic candidates and causes. Labor leaders called the lawsuit part of a coor- dinated effort by conserva- tive groups to weaken labor rights. The tie vote came amid a political standoff over Obama's nomination of appeals court judge Merrick Garland to fill Scalia's va- cantseat.Garlandwasmeet- ingTuesdaywithRepublican Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk, his first meeting with a GOP senator. DEADLOCKED VOTE Tied 4-4 a er Scalia's death, high court gives unions a win ColusaCasinoResortPresents Must be 21+ to attend. Management Reserves All Rights ©2016. Friday, April 22 nd • 9pm Free for Members $ 10 Non-Members Must be 21+ to attend. Managment Reserves All Rights ©2016. doors7pm• show 8pm April 1 st Greg fitzsimmons Stand-Up Comedian Tickets available at ColusaCasino.com and in the Gift Shop 3770 Hwy 45 | Colusa, CA | 530.458.8844 | ColusaCasino.com | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016 4 B