A man was arrested last week for an assault on former Navy SEAL Jonathan Gilliam at a pro-Trump event at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., Breitbart.com reported:
Andrew James Ruder, 37, of Charleston, South Carolina, was arrested for simple assault by the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department on Saturday for allegedly hitting and choking a man who attended a pro-President Donald Trump event at the Willard International Hotel, according to a police report obtained by Breitbart News and a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department.
Jonathan Gilliam, a retired Navy SEAL and former FBI special agent who was a speaker at the Women for America First event, is named as the victim of the alleged assault in the police report.
…The police report said Ruder used “Personal Weapons (Hands / Feet)” in the attack: On listed date time and location S-1 lunged in a aggressive manner towards V-1 in which S-2 joined and assaulted V-1 by grabbing his neck causing the listed injury. V-1 was able to defend himself and strike S-1 on the face with a closed fist. S-1 was placed under arrest and transported to the Second District for processing.
Gilliam on the attack:
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Unfortunately, due to the harassment from Trump haters from an adjacent ball room, and lack of hotel security involvement, an event occurred when myself and others were escorting WFAF women out of the venue. I’m ok, but the future of this country is not!— Jonathan T Gilliam (@JGilliam_SEAL) December 16, 2019
The arrested was reported on Dec. 17. TGP reported last weekend on the wild attacks and harassment by attendees of Democrat Party connected wedding on a meeting of Trump supporters Women for America First:
A meeting of pro-Trump women by a group called Women for America First was disrupted and attendees harassed and attacked at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. Saturday night, according to reports. Jonathan Gilliam, a former Navy SEAL, was in attendance and tried to shield the women. Gilliam was attacked and reportedly wounded. There is a claim that one arrest was made.
The Willard is located about a block from the White House and is considered one of the finest hotels in the nation’s capital and is known for its annual Christmas decorations.
https://twitter.com/Gabby_Hoffman/status/1206249161177346049
Here’s a photo of the mayhem.
An observer posted a photo to Instagram Saturday night that showed several D.C. Metropolitan police officers in the lobby of the Willard. The observer commented, “Because sometimes even really well-dressed super rich people just can’t get along nicely….at a wedding….at The Willard! Lol…funniest part is as we’re leaving later, I see guy w bloody nose and his wife or girlfriend says “tonight is the one time you forgot your tampons?”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6FDQYTHUPG/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Dr. Jane Ruby tweeted about the attack, “BREAKING: @realDonaldTrump supporters attacked in DC @WillardHotel last night During @WomenforTrump event, speaker @JGilliam_SEAL Former Navy seal and incredible patriot was attacked by anti-Trump scumbags attending a wedding at the hotel. He was injured.”
https://twitter.com/DrJaneRuby/status/1206271729460490241
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Statement by Women for America First on the attack from Dec. 16.
“Last Saturday, Women for America First, hosted approximately 200 women in Washington, DC for a Very MAGA Holiday Weekend. We kicked off our three-day weekend of events on Wednesday, December 12th with a Women’s Empowerment Bootcamp followed by an informative White House Policy Briefing. Other events included voicing our opposition to the impeachment process at the Capitol, participating in Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery, and enjoying the White House Christmas Tour. Our weekend of fabulous events culminated with our second annual cocktail reception, held at the historic Willard Hotel.
Our event on Saturday evening was rudely disrupted when attendees from a high-profile democrat wedding in the adjacent ballroom repeatedly stalked, harassed, and both verbally and ultimately physically attacked our guests. Throughout the evening, on at least 30 different occasions, our private event was interrupted. One group of our guests trying to locate our event was invited into the room the wedding was being held by a group of women attending the wedding. Once inside, they realized it was the wrong room, but the women told them they should stay because it was a Biden rally and they simply shouldn’t support President Trump. Our guests were repeatedly verbally assaulted with comments such as “is this an actual thing?”, “you should be ashamed of yourselves”, “MAGA Trash”, “Nazis” and “C*nts”. Wedding guests walked into our event as if they belonged there and began bidding on silent auction items. Ultimately hotel security was placed at the door of our event at the end of the night but even that did not deter the wedding guests from antagonizing our group in the hallways or in the restrooms.
As the evening came to a close, our guest speaker, former Navy SEAL and FBI agent, Jonathan T. Gilliam, helped escort our guests out of the venue. During this time, the alleged best man refused to allow people on the elevator saying, “you’re only allowed in if you respect your ovaries”. As Jonathan escorted approximately five of our guests to the lobby of the hotel via the stairs so they could exit the hotel, the alleged best man in the wedding party and several other individuals began verbally taunting him and the women he was protecting, resulting in an altercation. Subsequently, Jonathan was physically attacked by approximately 4-6 other attendees of the wedding party who piled on attempting to choke and beat him, before he was able to break free and counter the attack. After others intervened, including a plain clothed officer, the fight was broken up. Metro DC police responded to the assault within minutes and the alleged best man was arrested.
The abuse by the wedding guests did not stop there. After the police arrested the man, the wedding guests proceeded to confront our guests and screaming to “make things right”. The wedding guests proceeded to the Round Robin Bar where they continued to intimidate members of our group to the point where our members retreated to their rooms to avoid any further attacks.
It is absolutely deplorable to be attacked by self-appointed “DC elites” at a private event in one of DC’s most prestigious hotels, located across the street from the White House, for no other reason than that we support President Donald J. Trump. Sadly, attacks on Trump supporters are commonplace in public; but to have this experience at a private event paid for by our organization is simply beyond the pale and exposes the lengths the left will go to silence and marginalize those who support this president. They may continue to attempt to intimidate and shut us down, but we will not be silenced. Our movement will continue to grow as democrats continue to expose their true selves. We will not be deterred. It may cost our organization more, but clearly, we may be forced to provide private security to ensure the safety of those attending our upcoming events.
Let it be known that despite the attacks and pushback from those who wish to destroy us, we will continue to stand strong in support of President Trump and the America First Agenda.”
Note: My apologies for the tardiness in posting this follow-up. I was traveling and under-the-weather. Catchin up now.
UPDATE: Jonathan Gilliam sent TGP a comment with advice: “Overall the biggest thing that has stuck with me after this happened is how ill prepared most people are in fighting these leftists, both in social media and in situations like I was confronted with. Conservatives are not organized. They get played by the Republican Party and they get beat up and oppressed by the left.
I was fully aware of the potential for that attack, and because of that awareness I was able to counter the attack and articulate to law enforcement what happened. Despite all that, I was still choked and without air for over 20 seconds and could have gotten arrested for fighting back.
Conservatives need to learn from this and be prepared to walk away when possible, and have a plan to act and articulate their actions when walking away is not possible.“
