The Florida state attorney tasked with handling battery charges against Donald Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski formally announced on Thursday that he does not plan to prosecute him.
“After reviewing the video recording, there is no reasonable doubt that Mr. Lewandowski pulled Ms. Fields back as she was attempting to interview Mr. Trump,” state attorney David Aronberg wrote in his decision not to pursue criminal prosecution, which was later obtained by the Washington Examiner.
While Aronberg acknowledges that Lewandowski did in fact grab the forearm of ex-Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields at a press conference at Trump’s golf course in Jupiter, Fla., last month, he claims not enough evidence exists to prosecute Lewandowski for criminal battery.
JUST IN: Prosecutor: Donald Trump’s campaign manager won’t be prosecuted in battery case. https://t.co/Wi1v1iG7G1 https://t.co/4qpDy9KtKN
— ABC News (@ABC) April 14, 2016
“While the facts support the allegation that Mr. Lewandowski did grab Ms. Fields [sic] arm against her will, Mr. Lewandowski has a resemble hypothesis of innocence,” Aronberg wrote in his motion.
“There is insufficient evidence to rebut these defenses,” he continued. “Therefore, although probable cause exists, the state will No File this case.”
According to the motion, the state attorney’s office reviewed police reports, sworn statements, video footage, still photographs, audio recordings, phone records and an affidavit by former FBI agent Barton Brown before deciding not to prosecute Lewandowski.
During a press conference Thursday, Aronberg told reporters that Trump personally called his office and spoke with several employees, who he urged to “do the right thing.”
In a statement released Thursday, the Trump campaign described Lewandowski as “gratified by the decision.”
“[Lewandowski] appreciates the thoughtful consideration and professionalism by the Palm Beach State Attorney and his staff who carefully reviewed this matter, as well as Mr. Trump’s loyalty and the support of his colleagues and family during this time,” the campaign wrote.
Fields has since announced she plans to pursue a civil case for defamation against Lewandowski. After initially pressing charges against him, the Trump campaign suggested on several occasions that Fields had fabricated the entire incident.
“This individual has never met Corey, nor had the only reporter that supposedly identified him,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said of Fields and Washington Post reporter Ben Terris in a statement.
“We leave to others whether this [is] part of a larger pattern of exaggerating incidents, but on multiple occasions she has become part of the news story as opposed to reporting it,” Hicks added.
