A Virginia man, viewed in a viral video coughing and then blowing on two women that were protesting President Trump outside his golf course, has been charged with assault.
What We Know:
- According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s office, Raymond Deskins, 61, was charged with a misdemeanor for simple assault on Sunday afternoon after a citizen received a warrant through a county magistrate.
Trump supporter forcefully exhaling without a mask on a protester outside the Trump National Golf Club, Nov. 21, 2020 pic.twitter.com/Bq2mMH1At0
— Douglas Christian (@DougChristianDC) November 21, 2020
- Deskins is accused of breathing and purposely coughing on two women who were protesting in front of the Trump National Golf Club located in Sterling, Virginia, on Nov. 21. In the above video, Deskins is seen getting into a verbal argument with protesters, then he coughed and blew in the direction of a woman.
- In a now-viral video, part of a group of counter-protesters caught Deskins, wearing a Trump T-shirt and a pool float that has the president around his waist, attacking the women. She can be heard asking Deskins to “get away” and told him “you don’t have a mask”.
- Deskins replied that he was not in anyone’s way and then exhaled heavily on the two women, declaring after the fact: “I breathed on you”.
- According to Politico, some members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors emitted a request to law enforcement on Sunday requesting a full investigation of the incident.
- The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said the disturbance was investigated at the scene but since it was not seen by law enforcement and the video did not catch the entire interaction, the sheriff’s office informed both parties that they could seek a citizen obtained warrant through a county magistrate.
Update on video circulating on social media after an incident near Trump National Golf Club. pic.twitter.com/NFnbmOnYRi
— Loudoun Co. Sheriff (@LoudounSheriff) November 22, 2020
“We’re both senior citizens, both close to 70 years old, which puts us in a high-risk category,” Kathy Beynette, one of the protesters, told NBC News4. “Because of this guy, my family has had to cancel the small Thanksgiving that we had planned with just a few people because I said I might’ve been exposed.”
- Virginia residents are required to wear masks in indoor public settings, yet it’s not obligated they be worn outside.
Deskins has been charged with misdemeanor assault as of Sunday after a warrant was obtained. He was released on a summons.
