TV reporter allegedly attacked and hung by the neck – The Irish Times

A Colorado man allegedly attacked a TV news reporter who asked if he was a citizen and taunted him by saying that was what he could now expect from his life in the United States with the looming second presidency of Donald Trump, according to criminal court documents.

The man, Patrick Thomas Egan, was arrested Dec. 18 in Grand Junction on suspicion of bias-motivated crimes, second-degree assault and harassment.

Mr. Egan is scheduled to appear in court on January 2 to see whether formal charges are laid.

According to police, Mr. Egan, 39, followed the car of KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex, who later told police he believed he was targeted because he was a Pacific Islander.

An arrest affidavit in the case said Mr. Egan arrived in a taxi when Mr. Alex, who was on an assignment at the time, pulled up to him at a traffic light and asked: “Are you even a US citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I’m a Marine and I’m leaving this country.” I swore to protect you from people like you!”

The affidavit alleged that Mr. Egan tackled Mr. Alex and subdued him before Mr. Egan “began to strangle him,” causing his co-workers to come out and help.

According to documents, witnesses said Mr. Alex, captured on security cameras, appeared to be having trouble breathing during the attack, the Associated Press reported.

Although the alleged attack appeared to be isolated, a hostile political environment towards members of the news media led Mr. Trump to call them “enemies of the people,” “threats to democracy,” “fakes” and “crooked bastards.” He used this rhetoric during his first presidency from 2017 to 2021 and as he successfully campaigned for a return to the White House leading up to the November election.

The Freedom of the Press Foundation announced in November that 75 attacks on journalists had been recorded since January 1 this year; This means a 70 percent increase compared to 2023.

A recent survey of journalists who received security training by the International Women’s Media Foundation found that 36 percent of respondents reported being threatened or subjected to physical violence, and 28 percent reported having legal threats or actions taken against them.

But nearly a quarter of Americans surveyed, or 23 percent, do not view political attacks on journalists or news organizations as a threat to press freedom. Among them, 38 percent identify as Republicans, while only 9 percent identify as Democrats, according to a report by the City University of London. – Guard