Linwood Kaine, the youngest son of Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., was charged in St. Paul, Minn., Friday for crimes police say he committed two and a half months ago at a Trump rally.
The 24-year-old man was charged with concealing identity in a public space, fleeing on foot and obstructing the legal process by interfering with a peace officer. The obstruction charge alone is a gross misdemeanor and carries up to a year in prison and $3,000 fine.
Kaine and five others were originally arrested March 4 on suspicion of second-degree riot following a “March 4 Trump” rally at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. At the time, the group was believed to have chanted and whistled during the pro-Trump event, setting off air horns and even a smoke bomb at one point.
Kaine, or “Woody” as he is known by his peers, was released from Ramsey County jail in the days following the incident, but it wasn’t until now that Kaine, the son of Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential running mate in last year’s election, was charged.
Prosecutors now say Kaine was among 75 to 125 anti-Trump protesters who crashed the 400-person pro-Trump rally by running into the Capitol rotunda. Ten of those protesters launched smoke bombs, unleashed mace in people’s faces and set off fireworks in the vicinity.
Police tried to apprehend the rowdy protesters and one ended up chasing Kaine and tackling him. Several officers were needed to hold Kaine down as he was detained.
A spokesperson for Kaine on Friday insisted to Twin Cities the son was not in legal trouble for his actions at the event.
“Today’s announcement of misdemeanor charges against Sen. Kaine’s son contains no suggestion that he engaged in disruptive behavior while at the rally, but are instead focused on his actions as he was arrested after he left,” Miryam Lipper, Kaine’s spokeswoman, said in a statement. “Tim and Anne support their son and hope the matter is resolved soon.”
