Feds charge Ohio man who tried to rush Trump stage
Seen in this video screenshot, a man who jumped over a security barrier ran behind the dais where Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was speaking during a campaign stop in Vandalia, Ohio, outside of Dayton. The man was stopped and Trump continued with his speech. (Joel Menken/Instagram via AP)
COLUMBUS, Ohio » A man who tried to rush the stage at a Donald Trump rally in Ohio was charged by federal prosecutors today with illegally entering a restricted area.
Authorities say Thomas Dimassimo, of Fairborn, jumped a barricade and rushed at Trump on Saturday. Video from the rally shows Dimassimo was able to touch the stage before security officials tackled him.
Dimassimo, 22, was charged in federal court in Dayton. The misdemeanor charge carries up to a one-year prison sentence.
Dimassimo, who attends Wright State University in Dayton, is a hard-working college student whose intentions were benevolent and a way to express his political ideals, his attorney, Jon Paul Rion, said.
“He clearly did not mean any ill will toward any person and was simply expressing his political views,” Rion said.
Dimassimo is a senior at Wright State majoring in acting, said university spokesman Seth Bauguess.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
An initial hearing is set for March 23.
5 responses to “Feds charge Ohio man who tried to rush Trump stage”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
“Benevolent intentions” are hardly implied by jumping a barricade and rushing a stage.
if you want to express your political views buy your own rally and you can speak as long as you want to the two other people that will be there. you don’t crash another candidate’s rally and demand to take over their stage.
..and that creep was given a platform for his propaganda on liberal national TV in an interview instead of being thrown in jail immediately!
Does this nice guy attack his mother when showing his affection? Only an attorney could use that choice of words.
We need to read the article carefully…”a benevolent student majoring in acting”…so it was an act…great defense. I’ll use it the next time I get pulled over, “But officer…I was just acting!”