Jesse Ratzenberger was charged with a felony for allegedly punching a San Antonio poll worker who told him to remove a Trump supporter’s hat inside a polling place. Photo courtesy of Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
Oct. 26 (UPI) — A man wearing a pro-Trump hat allegedly punched a poll worker who asked him to remove his political hat at an early voting site in San Antonio Thursday night.
Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Jesse Ratzenberger, 63, on suspicion of injury to an elderly person.
On Thursday night, a 69-year-old poll worker spotted Lutzenberger wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, as Texas law prohibits political attire inside polling places. , asked to remove it.
“Make America Great Again” is a slogan used by former President Donald Trump since 2016.
Mr. Lutzenberger complied, voted, and remained inside the building by donning his hat.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said at a media conference Friday that a clerk told Lutzenberger he had to leave and began escorting him from the building.
Witnesses said Lutzenberger threw his arm at a poll worker, who then pushed and shoved him.
Lutzenberger then threw several punches, striking the poll worker in the face, Salazar said.
On Friday, a judge ordered Lutzenberger to pay $30,000 bail, which court records show is due to Lutzenberger while awaiting trial on a felony charge of assaulting an elderly poll worker. The money was said to have been paid to release the suspect.
Texas law prohibits the wearing of shirts, hats, buttons or masks supporting political candidates or ballot proposals within 100 feet of a polling place.
Violators will be asked to turn their shirts inside out or remove offensive clothing such as hats.
Violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine.
