A Florida woman has been charged with battery after she allegedly threw a glass of wine on Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz at an event in his district. The incident took place in Miramar Beach, located in the state’s panhandle, where Gaetz was attending a community event and interacting with members of the public.
The @WCSOFL is confirming reports that our agency responded to an incident at an event in Miramar Beach Saturday involving Representative Matt Gaetz.
A 41-year-old Tallahassee woman, Selena Chambers, was arrested after it was found she intentionally threw a glass of wine at… pic.twitter.com/ZD9kalzjVM
— Walton Co. Sheriff (@WCSOFL) May 2, 2023
According to a statement posted on Twitter by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Selena Chambers of Tallahassee was arrested on Saturday after she intentionally threw a glass of wine at Rep. Gaetz. The department also added that Chambers had been shouting obscenities at Gaetz before throwing the wine.
Chambers has been charged with battery on an elected official and issued a $1,000 bond. She was released from jail on Sunday. Gaetz has also taken to Twitter to comment on the incident, stating that he will be pressing charges against Chambers to uphold the civility that the community deserves.
In a four-minute video posted on Twitter, Gaetz addressed the attack, which he titled “WHEN LEFTIST WINOS ATTACK.” In the video, Gaetz expressed his concern for the safety of Northwest Floridians and thanked the Walton County Sheriff’s office for taking swift action. He went on to say that he was at a community event speaking with members of the public when Chambers accosted him.
BREAKING: Tallahassee Woman Arrested and Charged with Assaulting Congressman Matt Gaetz on Saturday Evening, Gaetz Issues Statement in Response
“I will never allow the safety of Northwest Floridians to be compromised. I will be pressing charges against this individual in order… pic.twitter.com/lXccJypznU
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) May 2, 2023
This incident has once again highlighted the growing tensions between political rivals in the United States. While it is important to express one’s opinions and engage in healthy debate, resorting to violence and obscenities is not the way to go about it. It is crucial for citizens to engage in respectful dialogue and work towards finding common ground rather than resorting to physical altercations.
The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of elected officials and the need for increased security measures at public events. It is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of elected officials and the public at large.
