This “Florida man” story has a partisan edge to it. On Saturday, a man later identified as Gregory Timm drove his van toward a group of Republicans holding a voter registration event in a Florida parking lot. Instead of talking with them, Timm plowed through their tent and tables, narrowly missing some of the volunteers.
“All of a sudden, he hit the gas and plowed into us,” said Mark Alfieri.
When asked how close the driver came to hitting people, Alfieri said, “Probably maybe half a foot. It was very close.”
Alfieri was volunteering with the Republican Party, Saturday. He was registering voters with five other women close to 3 p.m. when, he said, the van pulled up.
“Kind of out of the blue, a man approached us in a van, was waving at us, kind of a friendly demeanor, thought he was coming up to talk to us,” said Alfieri. “Instead, he accelerated his vehicle and plowed right into our tent, our tables.”…
“After he ran over everything, he backed up, took out a cell phone, kind of recorded the damage, made some obscene gestures at us and then proceeded to leave the complex,” said Alfieri.
Fortunately no one was hurt but the driver did flee the scene. Police got a photo of the van including the license plate from one of the people at the scene and Timm was arrested a short time later at his home. He is now facing multiple charges:
#JSO has arrested the suspect who drove through the voter registration tent in the area of 11900 Atlantic Boulevard.
Gregory Timm has been charged with Aggravated Assault, Criminal Mischief, and Driving While Driver’s License Suspended. pic.twitter.com/zGKbR2VTg0
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) February 9, 2020
Here’s the tweet the local Republican party put out Saturday with photos of the damage:
Today in Jacksonville, Florida six Trump Campaign volunteers were intentionally targeted while registering voters. pic.twitter.com/0wzaCYh5ut
— Republican Party of Duval County (@DuvalGOP) February 8, 2020
That prompted a statement from both of Florida’s Senators:
Thanking God that no one was injured in today’s politically motivated attack against @DuvalGOP volunteers today. https://t.co/qKaJ8takNB
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 8, 2020
This appears to be a politically-motivated attack on hard-working volunteers in Duval County. Thankful that no one was hurt. @DuvalGOP will not be silenced or intimidated. They will redouble their efforts to support strong Republicans in NE Florida and around the state! https://t.co/F4Qi7hk7CR
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) February 8, 2020
And President Trump weighed in as well:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1226308565557706753
Meanwhile, national Democrats have been silent and the media has not been quick to pick up the story:
THREAD.
Over the weekend, a man attacked Trump Victory volunteers in Florida and like clockwork, the mainstream media, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, Michael Bloomberg & DNC Chairman Tom Perez have been silent.https://t.co/hLuBB02SxO
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 10, 2020
ABC's Good Morning America covered Harry and Meghan's first public appearance since leaving the royal family. https://t.co/cQGMd3mSGj
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 10, 2020
If this senseless attack in Florida was reversed & someone on the right drove a car at a handful of liberal activists, the A Block of every news program in the country would be reporting live from the scene and the media would be hounding EVERY Republican looking for a response.
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 10, 2020
ABC News did put up a story yesterday and the Washington Post has one up now. So it is getting some media attention but it’s not being treated as a big story. It’s possible that’s partly because the police still haven’t said whether or not this was politically motivated or not. I don’t see how it could not be given the target in this case. “What’s clear is, this individual drove up to a tent and was clearly registering voters with Donald Trump’s name and attire around them. And drove a vehicle at volunteers that’s what we know, looks pretty political to me,” Mayor Lenny Curry said.
But for now Timm’s motive remains a mystery as far as the police are concerned. Here’s a local news report on the incident:
