OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A prominent Democrat is under fire this week after videos online appeared to show that her security detail may have roughed a man.
Florida Democrat Rep. Val Demings, who is campaigning for the U.S. Senate and running against incumbent Florida GOP Rep. Marco Rubio — is reportedly under police investigation after a video showed two men pushing another man at a park.
Law enforcement officials are investigating whether security for Demings broke the law by shoving the man to the ground at a political event.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office investigation comes after a video clip obtained by Florida Politics shows two men pushing another man during a meet-and-greet event earlier this month.
Security blocked the man from entering the public park where the event was being held.
In the video, one guard says, “Don’t do it.” Another says, “You can’t get up. Stay down.”
“Democrats want to defund the police but holy cow if you film them in public they’ll have their private security pummel you,” reporter Matthew Foldi tweeted along with footage of the incident.
WATCH:
Democrats want to defund the police but holy cow if you film them in public they’ll have their private security pummel you…ON CAMERA
Yikes from #FLSEN candidate @valdemings pic.twitter.com/3OLFJbDoUl
(1/2)
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) August 16, 2022
A second video soon surfaced on Twitter and it looks even worse.
In this video, the guards were allegedly heard conversing with the victim — a “tracker” who asks politicians tough questions.
BREAKING: Security for Florida senate candidate Val Demmings pushed a video tracker to the ground and sent him to the hospital.
It's under investigation by police.
Full story: https://t.co/TRmGh5TM2j pic.twitter.com/3W22xDIDSZ
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 16, 2022
According to Florida Politics, the victim went to a hospital to treat his scrapes and bruises.
“In corrections I used to balance people like you off their head in the jail,” a security member tells the man who was pushed.
“Except for I don’t do bad things,” the man responded. “I’m not one of those people. I’m just doing my job. That’s it. I’ve been good to you guys.”
“Don’t touch me,” the security guard says. “Oh my god.”
“I’ve been so good, and y’all are just being ridiculous sometimes,” the man responded. “I just want to be even keel.”
“Let’s be even keel right now,” the security guard said. “So don’t take it personal, alright.”
“No I’m not,” the man responded. “Everything that just happened, we’re good.”
“Going forward don’t take it personal,” the security guard repeated.
“Take what personal?” the man asked.
“What’s going to happen to you,” the security guard answered.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Security for Florida senate candidate Val Demmings pushed a video tracker to the ground and sent him to the hospital.
It's under investigation by police.
Full story: https://t.co/TRmGh5TM2j pic.twitter.com/3W22xDIDSZ
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 16, 2022
“Holy crap!!” Steve Guest, special adviser to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), responded on Twitter. “Florida Democrat Val Demings’ private security team just beat the crap out of a tracker… and yes, it’s on video. What’s not on video: the vehicle Demings’ campaign claims was approaching.”
The Demings campaign issued a canned response to the scandal.
“Security officials take potential threats and threatening behavior toward the Chief seriously,” Christian Slater, communications director for the Senate campaign, said according to Florida Politics. “In this instance the individual did not respond to multiple requests to leave and charged at security personnel in pursuit of Chief Demings’ approaching vehicle.”
Rep. Val Demings’ (D-FL) security detail reportedly shoved a man to the ground outside of a Demings campaign event, according to a video obtained by Florida Politics. https://t.co/7c9z0Kx7nB
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) August 16, 2022
The two security guards are reportedly the executive protection officer and vice president of Ardent Protection, a security firm Demings’ campaign has given over $17,000 to since May, Federal Election Commission filings show.
