Off-duty officer who was running for Rhode Island state Senate facing charges for allegedly punching political rival at abortion-rights rally
CNN
Rhode Island Democratic state Senate candidate Jennifer Rourke was punched in the face by her GOP opponent -- a police officer who was off-duty -- during an abortion rights rally at the State House in Providence Friday night, Rourke told CNN in a statement.
Rourke said she was deescalating a situation with a counterprotester "when my Republican opponent Jeann Lugo punched me multiple times in the face."
The incident was caught on video, which appears to show Rourke stepping into an altercation at the protest and almost immediately after, getting punched in the face.
After recent burglaries at homes of professional athletes – including Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce – the NFL and NBA have issued security memos to teams and players warning that “organized and skilled groups” are increasingly targeting players’ residences for such crimes.