VA-SEN: In Letter, Allen Tackle Victim Demands Allen Fire Staffers; Pressing Charges Against Allen
http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2006/oct/31/va_sen_in_letter_allen_tackle_victim_demands_allen_fire_staffersSo WVIR-TV, the local Virginia station that first broke the news that Mike Stark was treated like a tackling dummy by staffers to GOP Senator George Allen because he asked an uncomfortable question or two of their boss, has just posted a letter about the incident from Stark himself. "I demand that Senator Allen fire the staffers who beat up a constituent attempting to use his constitutional right to petition his government," Stark writes, adding that he's pressing charges against Allen himself. "I spent four years in the Marine Corps," Stark says. "I'll be damned if I'll let my country be taken from me by thugs that are afraid of taking responsibility for themselves." Stark's full letter after the jump.
Full letter from Mike Stark:
My name is Mike Stark. I am a law student at the University of Virginia, a marine, and a citizen journalist. Earlier today at a public event, I was attempting to ask Senator Allen a question about his sealed divorce record and his arrest in the 1970s, both of which are in the public domain. His people assaulted me, put me in a headlock, and wrestled me to the ground. Video footage is available here, from an NBC affiliate.
I demand that Senator Allen fire the staffers who beat up a constituent attempting to use his constitutional right to petition his government. I also want to know why Senator Allen would want his staffers to assault someone asking questions about matters of public record in the heat of a political campaign. Why are his divorce records sealed? Why was he arrested in the 1970s? And why did his campaign batter me when I asked him about these questions.
(snip)
I will be pressing charges against George Allen and his surrogates later today. George Allen, at any time, could have stopped the fray. All he had to do was say, "This is not how my campaign is run. Take your hands off that man." He could have ignored my questions. Instead he and his thugs chose violence. I spent four years in the Marine Corps. I'll be damned if I'll let my country be taken from me by thugs that are afraid of taking responsibility for themselves.
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