Police charge Trump campaign manager with battery in incident with reporter

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Tuesday, March 29, 2016
In this Aug. 25, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, walks with his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski at a news conference in Dubuque, Iowa.
In this Aug. 25, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, walks with his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski at a news conference in Dubuque, Iowa.
wtvd-AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

JUPITER, Fla. -- Florida police have charged Donald Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski with simple assault in connection with an incident earlier in the month involving a reporter.

Police in Jupiter, Florida issued Lewandowski a notice Tuesday to appear before a judge on May 4 for the misdemeanor charge. A surveillance video released by the police appears to show Lewandowski grabbing a reporter for Breitbart News as she tried to ask Trump a question during a March 8 campaign event.

The police report states: "Lewandowski grabbed (Michelle) Fields' left arm with his right hand causing her to turn and step back." Fields showed police her left forearm which "appeared to show a grabbing-type injury," according to the investigating officer.

Trump says his campaign manager is "absolutely innocent."

The Republican front-runner went on to say in a statement that Lewandowski "will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court. He is completely confident that he will be exonerated."

Lewandowski has retained an attorney in West Palm Beach.

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