Trump security slams photographer Christopher Morris to the ground at a rally at Radford University in Virginia on Monday.
A Secret Service agent violently clashed with a news photographer at a Donald Trump rally in Virginia Monday, viciously grabbing his throat and throwing him down as he tried to take pictures of protesters being ejected from the event.
Viral video shows Time magazine photographer Christopher Morris shouting, “F--- you” twice to the broad-shouldered agent before the offended government officer grabbed Morris’ neck, spun him around pushed him to the ground at a campaign event in Radford, Va.
Witnesses said Morris stepped outside a metal barrier to get pictures of the dozens of protesters who were being paraded out the event, some chanting “Black Lives Matter” as Trump supporters showered them with boos.
Trump, saying, “Get them out,” called the protesters, “the enemy,” and even said to one demonstrator, “Are you from Mexico?”
Meanwhile, Morris and the agent stood chest to chest as the agent said to Morris, “Get back in your pen.”
Morris, instead, dropped the F-bombs, and a second later he was on his back futilely kicking at the agent. When Morris got back on his feet, he grabbed for the agent’s throat. Later he said he was only trying to demonstrate what the agent had done to him.
“The Secret Service is aware of an incident involving an employee of the Secret Service that occurred earlier today in Radford, VA,” the agency said in a statement.
“At this time, our local field office is working with their law enforcement partners to determine the exact circumstances that led up to this incident. The Secret Service will provide further details as warranted once additional facts surrounding the situation are known.”
A Time magazine statement said the publication had expressed its “concerns about the level and nature of the agent’s response. Morris has also expressed remorse for his part in escalating the confrontation. “
The Trump campaign put out a statement following the event. “There was an incident involving a photographer and a USSS agent at today’s Radford University Trump rally,” the statement said. “We are not aware of all the details surrounding the incident and all future inquiries should be directed to local law enforcement.”
