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Trump Shares Conspiracy Theory on Protester Being Shoved to the Ground

Ken Bredemeier

   WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday shared an unfounded
   conspiracy theory suggesting that an older protester police pushed to
   the ground last week in Buffalo, New York, could have been an
   anti-fascist "provocateur" trying to disrupt police communications.

   On Twitter, Trump repeated a version of the incident broadcast on the
   Trump-leaning One America News Network. "Buffalo protester shoved by
   Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was
   pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to
   black out the equipment."

   Trump added, "I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming
   scanner. Could be a set up?"

   A lawyer for Gugino, who remains hospitalized with a concussion,
   quickly condemned Trump's tweet, saying it was "a dark, dangerous and
   untrue accusation" that the man had been part of a "set up" coordinated
   by anti-fascist demonstrators.

   "Martin has always been a PEACEFUL protester because he cares about
   today's society," attorney Kelly Zarcone said. "He is also a typical
   Western New Yorker who loves his family. No one from law enforcement
   has suggested otherwise."

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