San Antonio poll worker attacked by voter

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A Texas man wearing a hat supporting former President Donald Trump punched a poll worker in San Antonio who told him that wearing items supporting a candidate was prohibited at polling places, a person said Sheriff on Friday.

According to a sheriff's report, the suspect violated Texas law when he entered the polling place on San Antonio's west side Thursday wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat in support of Donald Trump. The suspect reportedly complied with the poll worker's request to remove his hat.

After casting his vote, the suspect reportedly wore the hat again as he left the polling station. The poll worker approached the suspect again and asked him to take off his hat. The suspect then punched the poll worker in the chest and face.

The poll worker, who was a 69-year-old man, was treated at the scene Thursday and returned to his polling post at a library in San Antonio on Friday, officials said.

The suspect, identified as Jesse Lutzenberger, was booked into the Bexar County Jail. He is charged with a third-degree felony of assault on an elderly person and may face additional charges, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said.

Both the sheriff and the county elections director urged voters to remain calm and patient during the sometimes long waits in the election, which they described as contentious.

“Thankfully there was nothing life-threatening about the incident, but it was still an ugly incident,” Salazar said.

Salazar said there have been “several” incidents in which voters wore prohibited clothing or hats at polling stations but then removed them when the state law was explained to them.

“There’s nothing here worth getting hurt or going to jail for,” he said.

“Violence has no place in our electoral process. This type of behavior will absolutely not be tolerated. We will not allow anyone to disrupt the electoral process. Elections Director Jacque Callanen, her staff and election officials are doing an outstanding job to accommodate record-breaking early voting turnout,” Bexar County Judge Sakai said in a statement. “They deserve recognition for their efforts. The vast majority of voters behave responsibly and respectfully. We want to protect and defend the right to vote of all citizens eligible to vote. Let’s respect everyone involved in our voting process.”

Texas law prohibits displays of support for political candidates on shirts, hats, buttons or masks during elections.

Voters who refuse to remove their clothing or turn their shirt inside out could face a Class C misdemeanor and a fine of up to $500.

This law affects voters, poll workers and loiterers within 100 feet of a polling place.