Actor Wendell Pierce took to Twitter late Monday night to say he regrets a Saturday altercation with a supporter of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders that led to his arrest, but also to claim that reports of the incident aren’t completely accurate.
Pierce, known for his work in HBO shows “Treme” and “The Wire,” sent out three tweets explaining his position on the fight and his hopes that “the judicial process will work as it should.”
I have confidence that the judicial process will work as it should. (3/3)
Wendell Pierce
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) May 17, 2016
Although what has been reported thus far differs in important respects from what actually occurred, (2/3)
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) May 17, 2016
I regret that what started as a civil political discussion escalated to the level that it did. (1/3)
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) May 17, 2016
He has said he supports for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the past, which led to the confrontation that got him in trouble Saturday night.
According to the New York Times, Pierce was at the Loews Atlanta Hotel Saturday with his girlfriend when he ran into Maggie Elena Baca, a Sanders supporter, and two of her friends.
The two groups “began a conversation about politics, which got Mr. Pierce upset,” according to a police report. This led Pierce to allegedly push Baca, and then follow her and friends up to their hotel room.
At this point, accounts of the incident diverge. Baca told the police that Pierce stuck his arm inside the hotel room door and, according to the police report, “he began to hit her in the head and grab her hoodie.”
Pierce said that he remained outside, but her friends tried to pull him into the room.
Either way, the incident resulted in Pierce’s arrest and eventual release on $1,000 bail. He then cancelled a planned commencement speech at Rutgers University on Wednesday.
Pierce most recently portrayed Clarence Thomas in HBO’s “Confirmation,” about Anita Hill’s allegations of sexual harassment during Thomas’ confirmation process to the Supreme Court.
Pierce’s representative did not respond to the Washington Examiner for comment.
