Donald Trump claims to Sean Hannity that a pen-wielding ex-Breitbart reporter threatened him first

(Image credit: Fox News/YouTube)

last updated 30 March 2016

Donald Trump continued to defend campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Tuesday night's Hannity, suggesting to Sean Hannity that the misdemeanor battery charges filed against Lewandowski in Jupiter, Florida, were politically motivated, and repeatedly saying he won't "destroy" Lewandowski's life over the roughing-up allegations from former Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields. "I wasn't interviewed by police," Trump said. "I don't know, are these police — they're in a town where I have a very big investment — I'm trying to figure, are these Democrats? Are these Republicans?"

Elsewhere in the interview, Trump mocked Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) for his state's economic health and for riding around on "his big motorcycle, you know, big tough guy." That morphed into this aside: "You know who's endorsing me more than anybody are the motorcycle people. These guys are — every time I make a speech I have motorcycles outside."

But mostly, Trump picked over Fields' statements about the alleged assault, pointing to the video released by the police to argue that Fields had exaggerated the encounter, or even forced Lewandowski to step in. "She grabbed me before he grabbed her — if he even grabbed her," Trump said. "And she had something in her hand — I don't know what it was, it looks like it could have been a pen. But, you know, from the standpoint of where we are, who knows what it is?! So she grabbed me, and then he maybe brushed her aside, and we're going to destroy his life for that? I don't think so."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.