A Wife Beater.... Just the Guy The GOP Needs to Run the Party

Go ahead and defend him. You know that you want to.


A police report says that Bannon’s then-wife claimed he pulled at her neck and wrist during an altercation over their finances. | AP Photo

Trump campaign CEO once charged in domestic violence case
The 1996 charges were later dropped due to witness unavailability.

By Hadas Gold and John Bresnahan

08/25/16 09:06 PM EDT

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Stephen K. Bannon, the new CEO of the Donald Trump campaign, was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, battery and dissuading a witness following an incident in early January 1996, though the case was ultimately dismissed, according to a police report and court documents.

The Santa Monica, Calif., police report says that Bannon’s then-wife claimed he pulled at her neck and wrist during an altercation over their finances, and an officer reported witnessing red marks on her neck and wrist to bolster her account. Bannon also reportedly smashed the phone when she tried to call the police.


While the case ended when Bannon's ex-wife did not appear in court, the incident presents a new problem for the Trump campaign following the hiring of the controversial Bannon. He went on leave from Breitbart News, where he is chairman, to take over the Trump campaign.

Bannon, through a spokeswoman, said he was never interviewed by the police about the incident. Bannon pleaded "not guilty" to the allegations and was represented by a local criminal defense attorney during the proceedings.

The couple — who had twin girls — were divorced shortly after the criminal charges were dropped in August 1996.

"The bottom line is he has a great relationship with the twins, he has a great relationship with the ex-wife, he still supports them," said Alexandra Preate, Bannon's spokeswoman.

On Jan. 1, 1996, according to the Santa Monica Police Department, police responded to Bannon’s home following a hangup during a 911 call. At the time, Bannon was heading up the Beverly Hills-based Bannon & Co., described in a Bloomberg profile as “a boutique investment bank specializing in media.”

Bannon’s then-wife, who POLITICO is not naming, answered the door at the home looking “very upset,” according to the police report.

According to the report, she said, “Oh, thank you, you are here. How did you know to come?” and took several minutes to compose herself.

Bannon, according to the report, was less than seven months into his second marriage, though the couple had known each other for a number of years prior to their April 1995 wedding. The couple just had twin girls seven months earlier, Bannon’s ex-wife told police at the time.

There had been a history of physical altercations in their relationship, Bannon’s then-wife relayed. "In the beginning of their relationship, she said they [had] 3 or 4 argument that became physical and they had been going to counseling. There has not been any physical abuse in their arguments for about the past 4 years. [REDACTED] said they have been arguing a lot, but no violence,” the police report states.

Bannon's ex-wife did not respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment.

According to the police report, on New Year’s morning 1996, Bannon’s then-wife asked for a credit card to go shopping, and they argued over whether she should just write a check. This quickly turned into a bigger argument about the couple’s finances and future.

"She told him that maybe he should find another place to live, that she wanted a divorce. [REDACTED] said he laughed at her, and said he would never move out,” the report states.

Bannon had gone out to their car, followed by his then-wife, the report says. She then spat at him, and Bannon “reached up to her from the driver’s seat of his car and grabbed her left wrist. He pulled her down, as if he was trying to pull [her] into the car, over the door."

"[REDACTED] said Mr. Bannon grabbed at neck, also pulling her into the car. She said that she started to fight back striking at his face so he would let go of her. After a short period of time she was able to get away from him,” the report states.

The ex-wife then entered the house and said she was calling 911. She was dialing the number when, the report states, Bannon “jumped over her and the twins to grab the phone from her. Once he got the phone, he threw it across the room,” and then left the house.

"[REDACTED] found the phone in several pieces and could not use it. She complained of soreness to her neck. I saw red marks on her left wrist and the right side of her neck. These were photographed,” the police report states, adding that the ex-wife declined an emergency protective order.

On Feb. 22, 1996, a complaint was filed against Bannon by the Santa Monica District Attorney’s office for misdemeanor domestic violence, battery, and dissuading a witness, according to Los Angeles County court dockets obtained by POLITICO.

The counts issued against Bannon in the domestic violence section include count 273.5(A), which according to the California Penal Code is “corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition” on a victim who is either a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, partner, or mother or father of the offender’s children.

Another count listed in the court records, 136.1(B)(1), is for seeking to “prevent or dissuade another person who has been the victim of a crime or who is witness to a crime” from reporting it to authorities.

The third count, 242, was for battery, which is defined under California law as “any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another.”

On March 12, 1996, Bannon was arraigned. He pleaded not guilty to all the counts andwas released on his own recognizance.

A jury trial was called on July 31, 1996, though the trial was “trailed,” meaning it was delayed.

On Aug. 12, 1996, the case was transferred to a different court, and was called for trial. According to the court records, however, the “victim/witness” was “unable to be located.” As a result, the judge ordered the case dismissed.

Five months later, on Jan. 13, 1997, Bannon’s then-wife filed to dissolve their marriage, according to divorce records obtained by POLITICO. She kept physical custody of their two children, whom POLITICO is also not naming. Bannon was ordered to pay her legal fees related to the divorce, child and spousal support -- including child-care and housekeeping, medical insurance and costs, school and extracurricular activity dues, and the children’s undergraduate tuition, room and board. According to the divorce settlement, Bannon was already paying spousal and child support to a wife and child from a previous marriage.

Bannon’s defense attorney on the case, Steven R. Mandell, declined to comment.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/...lence-case-police-report-227432#ixzz4IOpsK8ih

 

Now let's see. Ayers was innocent because he was never convicted. Hillary was innocent because they could not show her intentions. I guess Bannon belongs to the same category.

BTW, Bill is NOT in that category.

 

What kind of defense do you want from someone? The case was dismissed. No defense necessary. Case closed.

 

I didn't say he was convicted. I said he beat his wife. He did indeed beat his wife. The legal challenge wasn't met and Bannon wasn't convicted but the police report detailed the incident. This isn't unusual in domestic crimes for a host of reasons but Bannon did assault his wife, she just declined to make a criminal case out of it.

I knew that you would defend him. You always defend these guys. You are just like him.

 

Yet another case of Trump surrounding himself with the "best and brightest".

 

I didn't say that you said he was convicted. Did I?

Yes, you said that. HOW you know that is beyond comprehension, however. So, please tell us HOW you know that?

Evidence, please. And, no, her word alone is not evidence.

So? A police report is not evidence.

Why should I believe you? How do you know this?

Again... I'm asking for evidence. If you have any, please reveal it.

Hardly. The case was dismissed because the victim couldn't be located.

I'm not "defending" anyone. You can't seem to be able to provide any evidence that this man beat his wife. The witness never testified. A judge dismissed the case. Now, I'm not sure how you think our criminal justice system works, but if you think a man is guilty until proven innocent, you have a very skewed perception.

 

Yes, her word is evidence, but it is not proof. He said/She said. Both are evidence, but they prove nothing. Now in the case of Ayers, they not only have lots of evidence, but for proof, they have his own word.

 

Pardon me, I should have used the word "proof". Regardless, it's still something Moron Joe can't provide and yet he is condemning this man without it.

 

Oh Yeah! He hires the best people, fires them and hires more of the best people, fires them, hires more of the best people... Kind of makes you wonder why Trump didn't just hire the best people in the first place.

 

Maybe Trump meant that he hires the best white supremacists? He is right about that.

 

The ‘Alt-Right’ Is Thrilled By Hillary Clinton’s Denunciation
The attention shows “we’ve made it,” a neo-Nazi website declared.
08/25/2016 07:11 pm ET | Updated 5 minutes ago
1.7kMatt Ferner National Reporter, The Huffington Post

CARLO ALLEGRI / REUTERS
Hillary Clinton’s powerful denunciation Thursday of “alt-right” extremism that she said GOP opponent Donald Trump embraces was cheered by adherents of the political philosophy.

Clinton, linking Trump with white nationalists and a “radical fringe,” delivered a blistering attack on what she said was the alt-right’s takeover of the Republican Party. In doing so, she cast a spotlight on the obscure movement, thrusting it into mainstream political discussion.

“She is doing the white nationalism movement a great service by bringing attention to our issues to the forefront of political debate,” said William Johnson, a leader of the white nationalist American Freedom Party who was selected by Trump as a California delegate during the primary, but later resigned.

Jared Taylor, who helps run white nationalist online magazine American Renaissance, said he and those who share his beliefs “appreciate any publicity Mrs. Clinton gives us.”

“We have important things to say and are glad for any opportunity to speak to national audiences,” Taylor told HuffPost.

The Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi website that calls itself “the world’s most visited alt-right website,” also cheered Clinton’s speech.

“Well guys. We’ve made it,” Daily Stormer founder Andrew Anglin wrote. “Hillary Clinton is giving a speech about us today.”

Richard Spencer, head of white nationalist think tank National Policy Institute who is credited with coining the term “alternative right,” wrote in an online journal that Clinton’s speech is “empowering.” The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors extremist groups, calls National Policy Institute’s journal “racist.”

Moreover, according to Spencer, it may no longer be accurate to label the extreme right-wing ideology “alternative.”

At the Republican National Convention last month, where Trump formally accepted his party’s nomination, Spencer declared that alt-right had “taken over” the mainstream right.

Spencer celebrated that sentiment on Twitter Thursday, before Clinton’s speech.

Richard B. Spencer @RichardBSpencer
The #AltRightMeans we are the right wing now!

11:59 AM - 25 Aug 2016


On white nationalist website Stormfront, there was a call to use the #AltRightMeans tag to counter Clinton’s rhetoric about the movement. The hashtag was trending before and during Clinton’s speech.

The alt-right is a somewhat amorphous label for a what Southern Poverty Law Center defines as “a set of far-right ideologies, groups and individuals” whose core beliefs rest in the notion that “white identity” is under attack by “political correctness” and “social justice.” These forces are acting to “undermine white people and ‘their’ civilization,” according to the law center.

American Renaissance defines the alt-right as a “broad dissident movement” that rejects the principle that all people are equal. Race is central to its philosophy. Here’s American Renaissance in its own words:

View image on Twitter



Kasie Hunt

✔@kasie
This is how alt-right American Renaissance defines the alt-right, from their statement in response to Clinton speech

2:54 PM - 25 Aug 2016


The movement, called different things as it festered on the margins of politics for decades, appears to be gaining a boost during this presidential campaign. Google Trends shows interest in the search term “alt right” as very low from 2004 until about April 2015. Since then, searches for the term have quadrupled.

That’s at least in part related to the higher profile that white supremacy groups have received during Trump’s campaign, which has been criticized for not rejecting support from white supremacists like David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard who encouraged other white nationalists to volunteer for Trump’s campaign.

Trump denies he’s a racist, but continues making racist remarks. His ever-changing immigration policies include the deportation of millions. He has pledged to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. And he has a habit of retweeting messages posted by white supremacists and sharing them with his 11.1 million Twitter followers.

Clinton’s speech also sparked a flood of news articles about the alt-right.

That widespread coverage is a “lottery win” for the extremists, Brian Levin, director for the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, told HuffPost. While pushing extremism into the mainstream conversation may be unpleasant, he said, it remains critical to show the extremismcelebrating Trump’s candidacy.

The alt-right, Levin said, is a “cobbled and somewhat amorphous movement that includes a core of bigots has infiltrated part of a mainstream political insurgency.” And as its profile rises, it must at the very least be reckoned with, he said.

“The fact that Euro-nationalism and all the horrendous bigotry that is tied to it has not just become an unwelcome visitor at the door of a major political party, but an occupant of the household, is of relevance not only for those partisans trying to defeat Republicans, but to those within the GOP who are alarmed that their presence is antithetical to their principles as well,” Levin said.

 

I thought Lyin Joe loved wife beaters....Wife beater, child support cheat, and food stamp fraudster Alan Greyson, is one of the folks Lyin Joe agrees with 100% of the time, right Joe?

Hillary jumped the shark. Even our hardcore liberal secretary at work said so.

 

No, no, I said I like when your wife beats YOU!

 

I see no evidence he has anything to do with white supremacy, but Hillary hired a misogynist!

 

Lyin Joe, link us to something like Trump kissing Robert Byrd, or calling him a friend and mentor. Or Trump calling ANY KKK Grand Dragon or whatever, a mentor.
Until then, STFU punk troll.
I know it's a bad week for your ilk, maybe you just need a safe space for a while. Punk.

 

The race card, or any card for that matter, is a complete sign of desperation. Laugh this shit off folks. Hillary jumped the shark....even Lyin Joe knows it.

 

Awwwwwww, still can't identify it?

 

Robert Byrd

You've mentioned the Byrd and Clinton kiss before, casting it in a negative light. Afterwards, I mentioned the fact that he quickly became uninterested in the Klan, and what they stood for. Yet, here you make the same allegation, again in a negative light.

My question is, why? I'm assuming you want to hurl shit at Joe, but why use this inaccurate portrayal of a man that escaped the prejudiced and bigoted ways that continues to allow the Klan to thrive, especially after having had that illusion supposedly dispensed with by the knowledge that such a negative belief in the man was unjustifiable?