GOP congressman says he will press charges against woman who threw drink at him

Gaetz revealed during a Wednesday interview with Sean Hannity that he would be pressing charges against Kondrat’yev, saying, “This type of behavior from the Left is why you really see the Right winning elections and winning the culture war.”

“If there are no consequences, then, you know, maybe it’s me getting hit with a drink one time, but what if it’s a member of my staff? What if instead of a drink it is acid or urine, or something else like that?” The Florida representative continued, adding, “I think it’s really important we send a message that we as conservatives have a right to our views just as anyone else has a right to their views, we are not backing down from anybody. People that behave this way should face the consequences before a court.”

In May, Vice published a piece encouraging readers to throw milkshakes at conservative politicians, which received significant media attention.

Maxine Waters, the Democratic congresswoman from California, called on her supporters last June to confront the Trump administration, saying, “If you see anybody from the Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, and a gasoline station, you get out, and you create a crowd to push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.”

Shortly after Waters’ comments, Cory Booker, the Democratic senator from New Jersey, declined to condemn them, agreeing that public officials should be fair game, as long as it is out of love. “If I saw an administrator out and about, there’s nothing wrong with confronting that person, but not to lead with love … is unacceptable to me.”