Matt Gaetz calls for jail time for woman who threw drink at him: ‘My staff deserves to be safe’

Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz urged a judge to ensure that the woman who threw a drink at him earlier this year spend time behind bars.

Amanda Kondrat’yev, 35, threw a glass full of red liquid at Gaetz during an event in Pensacola in June. She pleaded guilty to assaulting a U.S. congressman in August but has yet to be sentenced.

In a letter to the court, Gaetz urged the judge to sentence Kondrat’yev to serve time in jail for her assault. The congressman wrote, “I ask the court to sentence the Defendant to some time of incarceration.”

“Constituents deserve to be safe at events hosted by our congressional office. My staff deserves to be safe,” Gaetz noted. “Their families and mine shouldn’t have to worry that while federal officials are doing their jobs, we are at risk of assault.”

Gaetz explained that he knows there are violent people in both political parties, and he wants to ensure that everyone knows there will be punishments for taking political disagreements to the next level.

“My supporters are just as passionate as my opponents. They have the capability to be violent too. My efforts to ensure ALL participants remain nonviolent are undermined greatly by the Defendant’s actions,” he wrote. “Only incarceration allows me to reinforce to my supporters and opponents alike that Free Speech is welcomed — but assault will not be tolerated.”

He claimed letting Kondrat’yev off without jail time would signal to the public that the “first assault is functionally ‘free.’” He added, “This will make my events, my staff and my constituents less safe.”

In a separate comment to the Pensacola News Journal, Gaetz said, “My supporters have never been violent to anyone.”

Kondrat’yev faces several potential punishments, including a $100,000 fine, five years probation, or up to one year in prison.

[Also read: Matt Gaetz blasts ABC News pundit as ‘definition of useless’]

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