Philippe Reines, a former top aide to Hillary Clinton, shared the contact information of a Virginia bookstore whose owner called police over the weekend amid a confrontation between former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and another customer.
Nike Cooke, the owner of Black Swan Books in Richmond, called 911 after a woman confronted the former Trump adviser, calling him a “piece of trash.”
In a tweet Sunday, Reines posted the address, phone number and email of the bookstore, which is available on the store’s website, appearing to urge his followers to contact the business to defend the woman.
A woman saw Steve Bannon in a VA book store. She took the opportunity to call him a “piece of trash.”
Nick Cooke, the owner of Black Swan Books, called the police.
Black Swan Books
2601 West Main St
Richmond VA 23220
804.353.9476
[email protected]https://t.co/uFqN8KZNhy— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) July 8, 2018
Reines said in a later tweet that he “presented the facts [without] encouraging any behavior,” but he hoped that people would contact the bookstore.
“I’m providing a service to the public by providing the contact information the bookstore posted on their website — presumably with the hope of being contacted,” he wrote. “I presented facts [without] encouraging any behavior.”
“I’d point out through [sic] it’s possible this woman stopped a book burning,” the tweet continued.
I’m providing a service to the public by providing the contact information the bookstore posted on their website – presumably with the hope of being contacted. I presented facts w/o encouraging any behavior.
I’d point out through it’s possible this woman stopped a book burning. pic.twitter.com/ofDi2aA3tM
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) July 8, 2018
Some accused Reines of encouraging harassment against the bookstore, to which he responded, “You don’t know my intent. I don’t know her intent. Who can really know Hitler’s intent?”
You don’t know my intent.
I don’t know her intent.
Who can really know Hitler’s intent?
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) July 8, 2018
Cooke called police Saturday after a woman “repeatedly shouted obscenities” at Bannon, he wrote in a statement on the store’s website.
“While I personally disagree strongly with Mr. Bannon’s political views, I will not allow someone to shout obscenities at any customer in our bookstore,” the statement said.
Cooke told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the woman left as he called police.
The confrontation comes as numerous Trump officials have faced heated public interactions.
