Local Dem leader says he was not 'an aggressor' after arrest for hitting man with bullhorn at 'No Kings' rally

The seat of the Hernando County, Florida, Democratic Party who was arrested for allegedly hitting a antheral successful the caput with a bullhorn during a "No Kings" protest, said that helium did not enactment arsenic an aggressor and did not escalate the confrontation.

Brian Stewart, 63, was charged with elemental battery, a misdemeanor successful Florida, and booked into the Hernando County Sheriff's Detention Center aft the incidental successful Spring Hill connected Saturday. He was released aboriginal that day, records show.

Stewart said helium is "not a convulsive person" and that the antheral helium was accused of hitting — a disabled seasoned identified arsenic Thomas Michta successful constabulary reports — was harassing others astatine the objection "in an effort to elicit a reaction."

"This was a peaceful lawsuit attended by galore members of the community," Stewart told Fox News Digital.

FLORIDA COUNTY'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR ACCUSED OF HITTING MAN IN HEAD WITH BULLHORN AT 'NO KINGS' PROTEST

Hernando County Democratic Chair Brian Stewart arrested astatine a protest (Hernando County Jail)

"Unfortunately, an idiosyncratic disrupted that situation and was harassing rally attendees successful an effort to elicit a reaction," helium continued. "At nary constituent did I enactment arsenic an aggressor. I americium not a convulsive person, and I did not question retired oregon escalate immoderate conflict. I ne'er expected that I’d beryllium accosted oregon request to support myself arsenic I did successful that moment."

The incidental happened arsenic demonstrators successful Hernando County and crossed the state protested against the Trump administration's policies.

Deputies responded astatine astir 10:30 a.m. connected Saturday to the intersection of Mariner and Cortez boulevards, wherever Stewart allegedly struck Michta successful the caput with a bullhorn.

Michta told deputies helium was walking done the protestation erstwhile helium and Stewart became progressive successful an argument. He accused Stewart of striking him during the quality and reported being successful pain, with a disposable lump connected his head, according to an apprehension affidavit, WTSP reported.

According to the affidavit, video footage captured by a witnesser and reviewed by deputies showed Stewart utilizing a bullhorn to deed the antheral successful the caput and propulsion him successful the chest.

The incidental happened arsenic demonstrators successful Hernando County and crossed the state protested against the Trump administration's policies. (Giorgio VIERA / AFP via Getty Images)

After reviewing the video, a witness' connection and Stewart's ain admissions, deputies said they developed probable origin to judge Stewart intentionally deed the antheral and caused bodily harm, the affidavit says.

Stewart declined to remark further, saying his lawyers advised him not to marque further nationalist statements.

"I person galore much thoughts to share, but my lawyers counsel that I should defer doing truthful until aft the lawsuit has concluded," Stewart told Fox News Digital. "Out of respect for the ineligible process and connected the proposal of counsel, I volition not beryllium commenting further connected the specifics of the lawsuit astatine this time."

Stewart is scheduled to look successful tribunal connected April 27.

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Protesters clasp signs and flags adjacent President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago edifice during the "No Kings" nationalist time of protest, successful Palm Beach, Florida, connected May 28, 2026. (Giorgio VIERA / AFP via Getty Images)

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The Florida Democratic Party and the Hernando County section said successful abstracted statements earlier this week that they "condemn violence."

"We person been made alert that our Chair, Brian Stewart, was arrested aft responding to a provocation from a section agitator who threw a portion connected him and yelled obscenities astatine assemblage members during a protest," the Hernando County Democratic Party said successful a connection to the Tampa Bay Times.

The Florida Republican Party called for Stewart to beryllium removed arsenic seat implicit the incidental astatine the protest.

"Violence and governmental intimidation person nary spot successful our state, and Floridians merit amended than specified soundlessness from Democrat leadership. Nikki Fried indispensable instantly region Brian Stewart from his presumption of enactment successful the Florida Democrat Party!" Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power said successful a connection to WTSP.