By The New York Times
Selena J. Chambers, a resident of Tallahassee, was arrested and charged with battery after allegedly throwing a drink at Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz during a wine and food festival in Miramar Beach. The incident took place on May 15, and Chambers has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to eyewitnesses and Gaetz, Chambers insulted and verbally attacked the Congressman before throwing the drink at him. Alcohol allegedly played a role in the incident. Gaetz then promptly reported the incident to law enforcement.
Chambers has been charged with two counts of battery, one of which is a felony battery on an elected official charge. She was later released on bond following her arrest.
Chambers denied intentionally throwing the wine at Gaetz, instead claiming that she tripped and spilled it on him. However, multiple witnesses reported seeing her throwing the drink.
Gaetz did not appear to be physically harmed by the incident, but he has stated that he wants to press charges against Chambers to uphold the civility of their community. He also expressed that he has no issue with facing criticism or disagreements but believes that people should engage in a respectful manner.
This is not the first time Gaetz has had a drink thrown at him in public. In 2019, Amanda Kondrat’yev was sentenced to 15 days in prison for throwing a drink at Gaetz during a campaign event in Pensacola.
The current incident has led to a dispute between Chambers’ defense lawyer, Matthew A. Karp, and Gaetz’s camp. Karp argues that Gaetz had been the “aggressor and agitator” during a verbal altercation with women attending the festival. Additionally, Karp announced plans to take the congressman’s deposition.
Nevertheless, Gaetz thanked the Walton County Sheriff’s Office for taking “swift action” against Chambers and reinforcing that physical violence and aggressive behavior have no place in public discourse.
The incident has prompted discussions on civility in political conversations and whether or not throwing drinks or any form of physical aggression is ever justified. Some have also debated the role of alcohol in such events and have called for better mechanisms to ensure that such incidents do not escalate.
As of now, Chambers’ trial has yet to be scheduled, and it is unclear how the current situation will affect Gaetz’s political career. In the meantime, the incident serves as a reminder that people should remain respectful, even in the face of intense political differences.
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Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57163165
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/woman-accused-throwing-drink-rep-matt-gaetz-arrested-charged-n1267306
https://apnews.com/article/florida-tallahassee-arrests-bills-electric-vehicles-senologia-838ed4d89d24ad2dc30e3b8246d8a4c6
