A Florida defense lawyer is seeking to undercut allegations by a Republican canvasser that he was the target of a political attack, arguing that the accuser acted aggressively during last month's confrontation.
Christopher Monzon testified during a court hearing Monday in Miami about the events leading up to what he said was an assault by two men angered that he was canvassing for Florida GOP Senator Marco Rubio, reports the Miami Herald. The incident has been called out by Rubio and has drawn national headlines. Now, Aileen Penate Hernandez, public defender for the accused, sought to discredit Monzon's account, suggesting he basked in the publicity.
Police arrested Javier Lopez and Jonathan Casanova late last month in the attack on Monzon in Hialeah, a city in Miami-Dade County. Penate Hernandez, who represents Lopez, argued the incident grew into a brawl after Monzon kept staring at his client's girlfriend, reports the Herald.
"This case is basically a he-said-she-said," Penate Hernandez said, according to the paper. "At the very least, it shows evidence of mutual combat."
Monzon told the court Monday that Lopez and Casanova began taunting and threatening him while he was out canvassing, telling him to leave the neighborhood, the Herald reports. They rushed him, punching and kicking him, before siccing Casanova's dogs on him (which did not attack), testified Monzon, who was left hospitalized.
But under questioning by Penate Hernandez, Monzon said he didn't walk away after being taunted, according to the Herald.
"You were so scared for your life that you walked toward the threat," said Penate Hernandez, who also played a cellphone video that appeared to show Lopez backing up before taking Monzon down.
"Yes, because I wasn't sure what would happen if I turned my back," Monzon replied.
Rubio has previously criticized reporting that cast doubt on Monzon's account, saying, "I know what his father has told me," reports CBS affiliate WFOR-TV.
Monzon is an active figure in local Republican circles and was a member of a white nationalist group that he has since said he disavows. The Florida Democratic Party called on Rubio to fire Monzon from his campaign after his past was uncovered that also included multiple arrests, reports Florida Politics.
Penate Hernandez pressed Monzon on becoming a "martyr" and his "political aspirations," according to the Herald. She also asked why members of the far-right group the Proud Boys were visiting him in the hospital.
"I plead the Fifth on the grounds I was not conscious at the time," Monzon said.
Prosecutor Santiago Aroca agreed that the case wasn't politically motivated, and argued that Monzon had a right to be canvassing and to "stand his ground," according to the Herald. He was referring to Florida's Stand Your Ground law that allows people who feel threatened to respond with force instead of retreating.
Newsweek has reached out to Rubio's campaign for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
");jQuery(this).remove()}) jQuery('.start-slider').owlCarousel({loop:!1,margin:10,nav:!0,items:1}).on('changed.owl.carousel',function(event){var currentItem=event.item.index;var totalItems=event.item.count;if(currentItem===0){jQuery('.owl-prev').addClass('disabled')}else{jQuery('.owl-prev').removeClass('disabled')} if(currentItem===totalItems-1){jQuery('.owl-next').addClass('disabled')}else{jQuery('.owl-next').removeClass('disabled')}})}})})
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrK6enZtjsLC5jqmsm6SZmHqlscWepZ2domK%2Ftq7IqGScmZ6rrrS%2FxKtkmqyklrCsedKasKxllau2pbHNnJxmpaWpwqK4jJymppqRqXpyg5RwbXFx