close
close

A Texas man was arrested for allegedly punching a poll worker who asked him to remove his political hat

A Texas man was arrested for allegedly punching a poll worker who asked him to remove his political hat

A man allegedly punched a poll worker at a polling station in Texas after he was asked to remove his red “MAGA” or “Trump” baseball cap, according to an incident report.

Jesse Lutzenberger, 63, was arrested Thursday and charged with injury to an elderly person, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office said.

According to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, Lutzenberger initially complied with the 69-year-old early voting clerk's request to remove his cap while at the Bexar County early voting site Thursday evening. According to Salazar, the employee advised him that wearing political clothing violated the state's campaign laws.

According to Salazar, after the vote, Lutzenberger put the hat back on in the building.

“The early voting officer then informed him that this was unacceptable and then began escorting the person out,” Salazar said at a news conference Friday.

As the two approached the facility's exit doors, Lutzenberger appeared to “throw an arm back toward the victim,” Salazar said, citing security footage of the incident.

“The victim appeared to be pushing away from the suspect. The suspect then turned around and struck the victim several times directly in the face,” the sheriff continued.

The election worker had “some marks on his face,” but otherwise no serious injuries, Salazar said.

PHOTO: Artist David Alcantar holds one "VOTE" flag as he gives way to a motorist in front of the Bexar County Elections Department in San Antonio, Oct. 15, 2024.

A man holds a “VOTE” flag in front of the Bexar County elections office in San Antonio, Oct. 15, 2024.

Eric Gay/AP

According to Salazar, Lutzenberger was booked into the Bexar County Jail on a charge of injury to an elderly person, a third-degree felony.

During a hearing Friday, a judge set Lutzenberger's bail at $30,000, which was maintained, according to court records.

When asked by reporters whether Lutzenberger would be charged in the attack on a poll worker, Salazar said authorities were now looking into it.

ABC News has reached out to Lutzenberger and his attorney for comment.

Texas is one of 21 states that ban people from wearing campaign clothing in or near polling places, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In Texas, a person may not wear, at the polling place or at the polling place, any badge, badge, emblem, or other similar means of communication that relates to any candidate, measure, or political party appearing on the ballot or to the conduct of the election 100 feet of exterior door through which a voter may enter the building in which the polling place is located,” the law states.

Salazar said there have been several minor incidents since early voting began in the county, including a “swatting call.” He said he wanted to “mute the tone of what's going on out there.”

“Look, nothing here is worth getting hurt and going to jail for. This election will happen one way or another,” Salazar said. “One side will win, one side will lose. That’s the nature of things.”

“But it makes no sense to take up a criminal case, to take up a criminal story – or to hurt or even kill someone in the name of politics,” he continued. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *