The White House said Wednesday that President Obama would fire anyone who got into a physical altercation with a reporter, the criminal charge that Donald Trump’s campaign manager is now facing.
“I am confident that neither President Obama nor [Republican] President George W. Bush would tolerate someone on their staff being accused of physically assaulting a reporter, lying about it, and then blaming the victim; that is complete unacceptable behavior,” said White House press secretary Josh Earnest.
Mr. Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was charged with misdemeanor battery this week for allegedly grabbing a female reporter as she pursued the Republican presidential candidate to ask him questions after a news conference in Jupiter, Florida.
Mr. Earnest said the charges against Mr. Lewandowski shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s been following the Republican primary.
“Nobody’s particularly surprised that that’s behavior that Donald Trump not only tolerates, but seems to encourage,” Mr. Earnest said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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