Senate candidate accuses motorist of threatening him with gun
Politics of the Day
Utah independent Senate candidate Evan McMullin has accused a motorist of brandishing a firearm and pointing it at him and his wife as the couple was driving home from a campaign event in April. The motorist has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges he is facing. CNN’s Jim Acosta talks to the candidate about his experience.
” data-duration=”02:32″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Listen to Utah Senate candidate recount alleged threat while driving” data-index=”idx-0″ data-show-name=”Newsroom” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/newsroom” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_d235a217ae81138450f423163e10591f-h_d7cb3fafbd7095f442db0ff38c839b32@published” data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/27/mcmullin-motorist-threat-accusation-acostanr-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_d235a217ae81138450f423163e10591f-h_d7cb3fafbd7095f442db0ff38c839b32@published”>
Now playing
Listen to Utah Senate candidate recount alleged threat while driving
Former Fox News politics editor Chris Stirewalt says that if former President Donald Trump were to run in 2024 he would be is facing a very different situation in the Republican primary than he did in 2016 when he won the nomination.
” data-duration=”02:24″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”‘A MAGA Jeb Bush’: Ex-Fox News editor on Trump’s 2024 chances” data-index=”idx-1″ data-show-name=”Anderson Cooper 360″ data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/ac-360″ data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_01d3d16fa0303483cc225b23101a2c39″ data-video-id=”media/2022/08/26/chris-stirewalt-trump-2024-harder-than-2016-sot-vpx-ac360.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_01d3d16fa0303483cc225b23101a2c39″>
Now playing
‘A MAGA Jeb Bush’: Ex-Fox News editor on Trump’s 2024 chances
CNN’s Scott Jennings and Democratic strategist Maria Cardona debate President Joe Biden’s speech where he called out MAGA republicans and comments he made saying the their philosophy was “semi-fascist.”
” data-duration=”02:49″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”‘A lot like Hillary Clinton’: Jennings reacts to Biden slamming MAGA republicans” data-index=”idx-2″ data-show-name=”Don Lemon Tonight” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/cnn-tonight” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_af9b30ebf177094df3bd95d8926ed6f7″ data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/26/biden-maga-republicans-jennings-cardona-dlt-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_af9b30ebf177094df3bd95d8926ed6f7″>
Now playing
‘A lot like Hillary Clinton’: Jennings reacts to Biden slamming MAGA republicans
Former Nixon White House counsel John Dean says that former President Donald Trump will not be happy about the contents of the redacted affidavit supporting the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago home.
” data-duration=”00:46″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”John Dean: Trump is going to be very unhappy about this document” data-index=”idx-3″ data-show-name=”Anderson Cooper 360″ data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/ac-360″ data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_b4e1c0d5deacf3ce5126b86eced40e7d” data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/26/john-dean-mar-a-lago-redacted-affidavit-not-be-good-for-donald-trump-sot-ac360-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_b4e1c0d5deacf3ce5126b86eced40e7d”>
Now playing
John Dean: Trump is going to be very unhappy about this document
CNN’s Kristen Holmes and Gabby Orr break down their new reporting inside Trump world, where some are growing increasingly concerned about Trump’s legal representation following the Mar-a-Lago search.
” data-duration=”03:33″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Some conservatives fear Trump could face real legal jeopardy. Here’s why” data-index=”idx-4″ data-show-name=”The Lead” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/the-lead” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_7a6d24434da109856a45118b7ca3b98e” data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/25/inside-trump-world-mar-a-lago-documents-holmes-orr-lead-sot-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_7a6d24434da109856a45118b7ca3b98e”>
Now playing
Some conservatives fear Trump could face real legal jeopardy. Here’s why
A federal judge ordered the Justice Department to release a redacted version of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant affidavit by noon on Friday. CNN’s Katelyn Polantz has details.
” data-duration=”02:27″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Judge orders release of redacted Mar-a-Lago affidavit” data-index=”idx-5″ data-show-name=”Newsroom” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/newsroom” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_9730c95c71fffa1d5f1c69a38f9ab5a1″ data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/25/mar-a-lago-search-warrant-affidavit-judge-ruling-nr-polantz-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_9730c95c71fffa1d5f1c69a38f9ab5a1″>
Now playing
Judge orders release of redacted Mar-a-Lago affidavit
Mick Mulvaney, former acting chief of staff of President Trump, joins CNN’s Anderson Cooper to discuss Trump’s request for a “special master” to review the seized documents from Mar-a-Lago.
” data-duration=”01:56″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”‘It makes no sense’: Ex-Trump official reacts to Trump seeking a ‘special master'” data-index=”idx-6″ data-show-name=”Anderson Cooper 360″ data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/ac-360″ data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_7b59b6500e936fc4c07e50b920e0d96f” data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/24/mick-mulvaney-trump-special-master-legal-strategy-fbi-seized-documents-intv-ac360-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_7b59b6500e936fc4c07e50b920e0d96f”>
Now playing
‘It makes no sense’: Ex-Trump official reacts to Trump seeking a ‘special master’
CNN’s Nia-Malika Henderson and David Chalian discuss why Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist could have trouble ousting incumbent Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida’s gubernatorial race.
” data-duration=”01:33″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Henderson: Crist’s win a sign of a weak Democratic Party in Florida” data-index=”idx-7″ data-show-name=”Anderson Cooper 360″ data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/ac-360″ data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_59301e06ba6e705b6f33e5351ced7e80″ data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/24/florida-democratic-primary-charlie-crist-vs-ron-desantis-sot-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_59301e06ba6e705b6f33e5351ced7e80″>
Now playing
Henderson: Crist’s win a sign of a weak Democratic Party in Florida
Former Nixon White House counsel John Dean says the letter released by the National Archives showing it told former President Donald Trump’s legal team in May informing them that it was sharing hundreds of pages of classified material it had retrieved in January with the FBI, so that an assessment could be done on potential damage from how the classified documents had been handled, is very damning.
” data-duration=”02:05″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”‘Very damning letter’: John Dean reacts to letter sent to Trump’s legal team” data-index=”idx-8″ data-show-name=”Erin Burnett Out Front” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/erin-burnett-out-front” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_8cc4976474a0d3c4ec6b0add682c1305″ data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/24/john-dean-national-archives-trump-letter-reaction-ebof-sot-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_8cc4976474a0d3c4ec6b0add682c1305″>
Now playing
‘Very damning letter’: John Dean reacts to letter sent to Trump’s legal team
Several Republican members of Congress are trying to take credit for legislation they voted against. CNN’s Jake Tapper has more.
” data-duration=”04:46″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Tapper calls out lawmakers for claiming success on legislation they voted against” data-index=”idx-9″ data-show-name=”The Lead” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/the-lead” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_386b327f4ab65ab16bea5b8adbdde079″ data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/23/republican-lawmakers-claim-success-law-voted-against-infrastructure-bill-congress-tapper-lead-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_386b327f4ab65ab16bea5b8adbdde079″>
Now playing
Tapper calls out lawmakers for claiming success on legislation they voted against
John Dean and former federal judge Nancy Gertner react to former President Donald Trump’s legal team asking a federal judge to appoint a “special master” to ensure the Justice Department returns any of his private documents seized during the search of Mar-a-Lago two weeks ago.
” data-duration=”01:52″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”‘They are just saying stuff’: Ex-federal judge reacts to Trump’s legal move” data-index=”idx-10″ data-show-name=”Anderson Cooper 360″ data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/ac-360″ data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_2c99068fa1bde0f170019d69b176adad” data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/23/john-dean-nancy-gertner-trump-special-master-mar-a-lago-documents-reaction-sot-ac360-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_2c99068fa1bde0f170019d69b176adad”>
Now playing
‘They are just saying stuff’: Ex-federal judge reacts to Trump’s legal move
CNN political analyst Maggie Haberman breaks down what’s notable about the lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump’s legal team asking a federal judge to appoint a “special master” to ensure the Justice Department returns any of his private documents seized during the search of Mar-a-Lago.
” data-duration=”02:03″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Haberman: There is an implicit threat in Trump’s filing” data-index=”idx-11″ data-show-name=”Anderson Cooper 360″ data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/ac-360″ data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_9ccb23febf529e2edeba1fe0303bbf2e” data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/23/maggie-haberman-trump-lawsuit-special-master-request-sot-ac360-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_9ccb23febf529e2edeba1fe0303bbf2e”>
Now playing
Haberman: There is an implicit threat in Trump’s filing
Former President Donald Trump’s legal team has asked a federal judge to appoint a “special master” to ensure the Justice Department returns any of his private documents seized during the search of Mar-a-Lago two weeks ago. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and Katelyn Polantz have more.
” data-duration=”03:35″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Why new Trump lawsuit shows disagreement behind the scenes” data-index=”idx-12″ data-show-name=”The Lead” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/the-lead” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_6c246ace52a4297617479ed86715b48a” data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/22/trump-special-master-mar-a-lago-fbi-search-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_6c246ace52a4297617479ed86715b48a”>
Now playing
Why new Trump lawsuit shows disagreement behind the scenes
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) discusses rhetoric from members of his own party after the FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s residence in Mar-a-Lago.
” data-duration=”01:28″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Crenshaw calls out ‘crazy’ rhetoric in his own party after Trump search” data-index=”idx-13″ data-show-name=”State of the Union” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/state-of-the-union” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_904186573dea59d903b64db31fc004a0″ data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/21/gop-rhetoric-fbi-trump-mar-a-lago-search-dan-crenshaw-sotu-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_904186573dea59d903b64db31fc004a0″>
Now playing
Crenshaw calls out ‘crazy’ rhetoric in his own party after Trump search
Dr. Anthony Fauci is departing his roles as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and as chief medical officer to President Joe Biden. CNN’s Arlette Saenz reports.
” data-duration=”02:12″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”Dr. Fauci announces he is stepping down from current roles” data-index=”idx-14″ data-show-name=”” data-show-url=”” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_634cd434674b07f71a96c6405581a993″ data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/22/dr-anthony-fauci-announces-stepping-down-december-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_634cd434674b07f71a96c6405581a993″>
Now playing
Dr. Fauci announces he is stepping down from current roles
CNN’s Athena Jones reports on two tightly contested primaries in New York, where three sitting Democratic members of Congress are campaigning for every vote.
” data-duration=”02:43″ data-editable=”settings” data-headline=”‘This race couldn’t be closer’: Democrat heavyweights compete in NY congressional primary” data-index=”idx-15″ data-show-name=”The Lead” data-show-url=”https://www.cnn.com/shows/the-lead” data-source=”CNN” data-uri=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_369397932f4b31559ee4307bd366c83a” data-video-id=”politics/2022/08/22/new-york-democratic-primary-maloney-nadler-faceoff-dnt-tl-jones-vpx.cnn” data-video-instance=”archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/video-resource/instances/h_369397932f4b31559ee4307bd366c83a”>
Now playing
‘This race couldn’t be closer’: Democrat heavyweights compete in NY congressional primary
CNN —
Utah independent Senate candidate Evan McMullin has accused a motorist of brandishing a firearm and pointing it at him and his wife as the couple was driving home from a campaign event in April.
The allegation is described in a “victim impact statement” filed by McMullin in the District Court for Utah County, Utah, this week and obtained by CNN.
In the filing, McMullin accused the motorist, Jack Aaron Whelchel, of making unprovoked threats that included forcing the couple’s car into oncoming traffic, before aiming a firearm in a threatening manner.
Whelchel was indicted in April on misdemeanor charges of making a threat with a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct. Whelchel pleaded not guilty to both charges. McMullin testified as a witness during a preliminary hearing in July, at which he identified Whelchel as the motorist, but the candidate has not publicly mentioned the incident.
McMullin’s statement to the court adds details about the April 10 incident.
“That night, we and Mr. Whelchel traveled along the same path for a number of miles through Utah County, which initially seemed to be happenstance or someone innocuously traveling along the same route as us,” McMullin wrote in his statement.
“Ultimately, however, Mr. Whelchel aggressively followed and chased us, pulled his truck alongside us and forced my wife and I into the oncoming lane of traffic. He then brandished a firearm, pointing it toward us in a threatening way,” McMullin added.
Whelchel’s attorney, Brixton Hakes, said his client disputes McMullin’s version of events, insisting a firearm was never aimed at the couple.
“He never brandished a firearm,” Hakes told CNN.
But during the incident, Whelchel did place a firearm on the center console of the vehicle, Hakes said.
According to Hakes, Whelchel “thought he was being followed” by McMullin, an incorrect assumption the attorney acknowledged.
Hakes said he expects the case to go to a jury trial after a scheduled hearing next month.
In his statement, McMullin pointed to Whelchel’s social media presence, which he said included accusations against politicians he opposes and about “guns being the tools with which to carry on this war against those he opposes politically.”
Whelchel’s Facebook page features several far-right memes.
McMullin also noted that, during the investigation, he learned that Whelchel has a military and law enforcement background.
“Mr. Whelchel must have been well aware of the danger posed by his actions and of their criminality that night yet he took them anyway,” McMullin wrote.
McMullin’s statement also asks the judge that any sentence against Whelchel, if convicted, include conditions to bar him from making any contact with the candidate’s family and campaign staff.
Hakes said his client no longer lives in Utah and will have to travel back to the state to stand trial.
Both men maintain they did not know one another prior to the incident.
McMullin, who is challeging Utah’s senior senator, Republican Mike Lee, said in an interview over the phone that the April incident should serve as a reminder of the danger posed by domestic extremism.
“I’m in a fight with the far right for American democracy,” McMulllin said.
A former CIA officer who sought the presidency as an independent in 2016, McMullin received the backing in April of Utah Democrats, who decided not to field a candidate in the 2022 midterm elections in order to bolster their efforts to unseat Lee.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/27/politics/evan-mcmullin-utah-senate-candidate-threat-accusation/index.html