Thread: Protester Who Rushed Stage at Trump Rally Asks to Go to RNC

Protester Who Rushed Stage at Trump Rally Asks to Go to RNC

• By DAN SEWELL, ASSOCIATED PRESS

CINCINNATI — Jul 6, 2016, 1:18 PM ET

ABCNews.com

WATCH Man Nearly Reaches Stage at Donald Trump Rally

A college student awaiting federal trial on a charge he tried to rush the stage at a Donald Trump rally asked for court permission Wednesday to go to Cleveland for the Republican National Convention featuring Trump as its presumptive presidential nominee.

In the motion, Thomas DiMassimo swears he will abide by federal and local laws while at the July 18-21 convention. Judge Sharon Ovington didn't rule immediately. DiMassimo's attorney declined to comment, citing the judge's admonition to both sides not to discuss the case publicly.

The Wright State University student was arrested March 12 at a Dayton-area rally at an airport hangar, touching the stage while Trump was speaking before Secret Service and other security agents converged.

He has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of illegally entering a restricted area, which carries a potential one-year sentence and fines if convicted. Trial is scheduled for Aug. 29 in Dayton.

DiMassimo, 22, has said he wanted to grab the microphone at the event to show people they could stand up to Trump. Trump praised the Secret Service for acting so quickly and called DiMassimo a "maniac" on Twitter after the rally, which was his first after well-organized students succeeded in keeping him from taking the stage for a Chicago event.

DiMassimo's attorney, Jon Paul Rion, also has a motion pending before the judge to dismiss the case, saying the federal statute is vague and violates DiMassimo's constitutional rights. He said earlier that DiMassimo only wanted to express his political views.

"Passions are high in this election," Benjamin C. Glassman, acting U.S. attorney for southern Ohio, said earlier this year about the DiMassimo case.

Regardless of whether people attend political events to support a candidate or to protest, it's important that everyone is safe, Glassman said.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireS...s-rnc-40378332

Why in the world would he want to go to the Republican Convention and have the nerve to ask? Feel there is something missing from this story.

Originally Posted by Jean

Why in the world would he want to go to the Republican Convention and have the nerve to ask? Feel there is something missing from this story.

At an earlier court hearing he was ordered to stay away from Trump, Trump rallies and Trump supporters. So he is asking the judge for permission to attend the RNC. Without the judge's permission he gets instant arrest for showing up anyplace trump is expected to be.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

At an earlier court hearing he was ordered to stay away from Trump, Trump rallies and Trump supporters. So he is asking the judge for permission to attend the RNC. Without the judge's permission he gets instant arrest for showing up anyplace trump is expected to be.

Thank you for more clarification but still don't see why he would ask, isn't like he's a supporter.

Originally Posted by Jean

Thank you for more clarification but still don't see why he would ask, isn't like he's a supporter.

He wants to exercise his freedom of expression and show disapproval of Trump.

Who Is Thomas DiMassimo? Actor, Student, Serial Protester ... |

Mar 12, 2016 - Democrats and many Republicans want to take away your right to free speech,...at rallies or even on the internet....Don't let them!

Also today:

Briton Michael Sandford pleads not guilty in Donald Trump 'assassination attempt'

Judge rules Trump protester who rushed stage violated bond

DAN SEWELL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
July 6, 2016 Updated: July 6, 2016 4:26pm

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Photo: Steve Mehaffie, AP
FILE - In this March 25, 2016, file photo, Thomas DiMassimo, listens as his lawyer speaks outside federal court after a hearing in Dayton, Ohio. DiMassimo, a college student awaiting federal trial on a charge ... more


CINCINNATI (AP) — A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a college student awaiting trial on a charge he tried to rush the stage at a Donald Trump rally violated conditions of his bond and would be placed on electronic home detention.

Judge Sharon Ovington's ruling came just hours after Wright State University student Thomas DiMassimo asked permission to go to Cleveland for the Republican National Convention.

She said he admitted violating conditions she set in March allowing him to be free under his own recognizance. It wasn't clear exactly what those conditions were. She ordered him to be turned over to U.S. marshals pending arrangements for home detention, including installation of a landline phone.

Earlier in the day, the 22-year-old DiMassimo filed a motion asking Ovington to approve his leaving the federal southern district of Ohio to go to Cleveland for the convention featuring Trump as the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee.

His motion included a sworn statement that he would abide by federal and local laws while at the July 18-21 convention.

The judge instead further restricted him to a seven-county Dayton region and said he must undergo a mental health evaluation if a court officer determined it was called for. But she declined a government motion to revoke DiMassimo's bond.

She had earlier allowed him to travel to Georgia to visit his family. Bond conditions also included not violating laws and not having any weapons.

DiMassimo's attorney declined to comment, citing the judge's admonition to both sides not to discuss the case publicly.

DiMassimo was arrested March 12 at a Dayton-area rally at an airport hangar, touching the stage while Trump was speaking before Secret Service and other security agents converged.

He has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of illegally entering a restricted area, which carries a potential one-year sentence and fines if convicted. Trial is scheduled for Aug. 29 in Dayton.

DiMassimo has said he wanted to grab the microphone at the event to show people they could stand up to Trump. Trump praised the Secret Service for acting so quickly and called DiMassimo a "maniac" on Twitter after the rally, which was his first after well-organized students succeeded in keeping him from taking the stage for a Chicago event.

Trump was campaigning in the Cincinnati area on Wednesday.

DiMassimo's attorney, Jon Paul Rion, also has a motion pending before the judge to dismiss the case, saying the federal statute is vague and violates DiMassimo's constitutional rights. He said earlier that DiMassimo only wanted to express his political views.

Benjamin C. Glassman, acting U.S. attorney for southern Ohio, said earlier this year in the DiMassimo case that "passions are high in this election" and that it's important to keep everyone safe, regardless of whether people attend political events to support a candidate or to protest.

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news...to-8343325.php