DOTHAN, Ala. — A Houston County Commissioner struck a television journalist in the face Tuesday as the commissioner made his way to his vehicle after a public meeting.
District 2 Commissioner Amos Newsome lashed out at WTVY reporter Ken Curtis after Curtis asked if he had considered resigning in the wake of voter fraud allegations connected to his most recent election.
“Would you be willing to resign if it would mean a better deal?” Curtis asked.
“Let me tell you something… Get!” Newsome replied as he struck Curtis in the face with a clawing motion.
WTVY Vice President and General Manager Spencer Bienvenu said the station intends to pursue third degree assault charges against Newsome.
“WTVY is extremely disappointed and horrified by the actions of Dothan City Commissioner Amos Newsome for his unwarranted physical attack on one of our employees,” he said. “We understand that holding political office can be stressful, but that never warrants unwanted physical contact, let alone an open, public assault. Our employee was attacked in the course of doing their job, which they are entitled to do without the fear of physical violence. Freedom of the press is a guaranteed right, one that should allow us to do our jobs in a safe, non-threatening environment. WTVY intends to press charges against Commissioner Newsome, to ensure that no one else will be attacked in the course of doing their job. We’re grateful for the relationship that we continue to have with the Dothan City Commission and our elected officials.”
The incident, which can be viewed in the Associated Press video above and on Facebook, appears to have been caught on camera by multiple journalists seeking to question Newsome about his alleged impropriety.
UPDATE: Commissioner Newsome has been arrested for third degree assault.
(h/t Dothan Eagle)
This is not the first time an Alabama politician has resorted to physical violence on camera.
Alabama Senator Charles Bishop punched fellow Senator Lowell Barron on the floor of the Senate in 2007.
Bishop explained himself by saying “He called me a son of a b****, ok? Where I grew up, that’s somebody talking bad about your mother.”
