Election clerk allegedly assaulted during early voting in San Antonio

An election clerk in San Antonio was allegedly assaulted late Thursday and the suspect, a voter, was arrested, officials said. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of injury to an elderly person, a felony. The incident is first instance of reported violence against an election worker this fall.

Early voting began Monday in Texas. According to a sheriff’s report, the suspect, 63-year-old Jesse Lutzenberger, walked into the polling location on San Antonio’s west side, wearing a Make America Great Again hat in support of former President Donald Trump, which is considered electioneering and against the law in Texas. The poll worker, 69, asked Lutzenberger to remove the hat, which he did, officials said.

Lutzenberger went on to cast his ballot. While still inside the polling location, Lutzenberger put the hat back on as he walked toward the door. The poll worker approached the man to tell him that was unacceptable and then began to escort the man out as they were approaching the doors of the location.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said a surveillance video showed Lutzenberger “throw an arm back toward the victim.” “The victim seemed to push off of the suspect. At that point, the suspect then turned and threw several punches right at the face of the victim,” Salazar said.

Salazar urged residents to keep calm while voting. “Nothing is worth going to jail for,” Salzar said. Emergency medical personnel responded to the incident and treated the election worker.

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