Prosecutors in Maryland have dropped the criminal charges against a woman accused of assaulting Kellyanne Conway at a restaurant after the Senate confirmation hearing of then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Maryland resident Mary Elizabeth Inabinett, 63, was accused of walking up behind Conway, who is a special counselor to President Trump, grabbing her, and yelling “shame on you.” Conway called the police to the Mexican restaurant in Bethesda, Md., and Inabinett was charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
With the trial set to have begun Monday, the state made the determination to drop the charges against Inabinett, with the contention that even if she were to have been found guilty, her actions would not warrant the punishment.
Montgomery State’s Attorney John McCarthy noted Inabinett had no criminal record, had not injured Conway, and agreed to write her an apology letter, according to the Washington Post.
“Was this woman rude? Yes,” McCarthy said. “Did she violate Ms. Conway’s space and try to embarrass her? Yes and yes. Is this a case where criminal sanctions would have been appropriate? No.”
Some other members of Trump’s administration have had run-ins with people while in public. Last June, Virginia restaurant Red Hen asked White House press secretary Sarah Sanders to leave the restaurant because she works for Trump.
