The man who allegedly assaulted a teenage boy for wearing his hat during the national anthem blamed President Trump for his actions.
The incident occurred at the Mineral County Fair and Rodeo on Saturday, where the assailant, Curt Brockway, 39, allegedly slammed the boy to the ground after the 13-year-old boy was “disrespecting” the flag. The boy was diagnosed with a fractured skull.
“It’s just a lot of pain in my head. I don’t remember anything — the rodeo — the helicopter — nothing,” the child told a local news affiliate.
“His commander-in-chief is telling people that if they kneel, they should be fired, or if they burn a flag, they should be punished,” attorney Lance Jasper told the Missoulian. “He certainly didn’t understand [the attack] was a crime.”
Brockway was in the U.S. Army, but was honorably discharged after suffering from a traumatic brain injury, which Jasper said contributed to his decision to act.
“Trump never necessarily says go hurt somebody, but the message is absolutely clear,” Jasper said. “I am certain of the fact that [Brockway] was doing what he believed he was told to do, essentially, by the president.”
Brockway has a record of assault and is serving a 10-year-long probation with a weapons charge from 2010.
