Republican Senate candidate Rhode Island suspended his campaign on Saturday after a video was released showing him hitting an opposing candidate during a protest after the Supreme Court annulled Rowe against Wade.
Jean Lugo, a police officer who was off duty at the time, was shown in a video hitting opponent Jennifer Rourke amid a large rally in Providence, RI, in response to the Dobbs Women’s Health Organization v. Jackson’s decision to overturn Rowe.
The Providence Police Department (PPD) said on Saturday that it was “investigating the criminal behavior of a police officer on duty last night during a protest in which a woman was attacked.”
“The employee served for 3 years and was placed on unpaid administrative leave this morning, pending a criminal investigation and administrative review,” the department wrote on Twitter.
PPD confirmed to The Providence Journal that Jean Lugo was a police officer, and the publication reported that Lugo was accused of simple assault and hooliganism later on Saturday.
Lugo told the Journal that he “will not deny” allegations that he hit Rourke.
“It was very chaotic, so I can’t tell you right now. It all happened very quickly, “he said.
Lugo added in a statement to The Boston Globe: “As an officer who has sworn to protect and serve our communities, I have unfortunately found myself in a situation where no one should be seen. agitators attacked. “
Rourke wrote on Twitter that Lugo had “brutally attacked” her, saying: “Here’s what it’s like to be a black woman running for office. I will not give up.”
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Lugo announced on Saturday afternoon that he was ending his campaign for the US Senate.
“I decided that now was the right time to look for an office, so I will not apply for any office this fall,” Lugo tweeted, according to many publications. It looks like his account has been deleted.
Hill turned to Lugo and Rourke for comment.
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