LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 18 (UPI) -- A former volunteer with campaign of Senator-elect Rand Paul, R-Ky., pleaded not guilty to assault Thursday in an alleged attack on a protester.
Timothy Profitt, 53, who resigned as a campaign volunteer after the October incident, faces as much as one year in jail if convicted of misdemeanor assault on Lauren Valle, 23, outside a Lexington, Ky., television studio where Paul was to take part in a candidates' debate prior to the Nov. 2 election, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal reported.
Profitt had said he feared for Paul's safety when he recognized Valle and was concerned she meant to harm the Tea Party-backed Republican candidate.
"I think she was there for a reason," he told WKYT-TV, Lexington, after the incident. "And that was hurt Rand Paul".
Before the debate between Paul and Democratic nominee Jack Conway, Valle, a volunteer with the liberal group MoveOn.org, was walking through a crowd of Paul boosters with a sign when several men grabbed her and pushed her to the curb.
Videotape of the incident showed Profitt stomping Valle in the head and shoulder area.
Profitt's defense attorney, Michael Dean, said Thursday his client was "doing at the time what he thought was necessary," the newspaper said.
UPI
