Trump says man shoved by Buffalo cops could be ‘ANTIFA provocateur’
President Trump said Tuesday that the elderly man caught in a viral video being pushed to the ground by Buffalo cops “could be an ANTIFA provocateur,” suggesting the incident was a “set up” by the band of far-left militants.
“Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment,” the president said in a tweet.
“I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?” added Trump, who was citing a report by the conservative news outlet OANN.
The news organization appears to have gotten the theory from a right wing website called The Conservative Treehouse, which published a story about it on June 6.
Neither outlet has provided evidence that the theory is true — and a lawyer for Gugino said it is baseless.
Attorney Kelly Zarbone responded to the president’s tweet by saying, “No one from law enforcement has even suggested” what Trump said, according to CNN.
“So we’re at a loss to understand why the president of the United States would make such a dark, dangerous and untrue accusation against him,” Zarbone said.
“Martin has always been a peaceful protester, because he cares about today’s society,” she added.
In an interview with WGRZ, Zarbone said: “The president’s tweet is utter ridiculousness. There’s no truth to the conspiracy theories and claims. Mr. Gugino has been under attack & the president’s tweet ratchets it up.”
The Erie County Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment on an ongoing investigation. The Buffalo Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown also issued a statement about Trump’s tweet.
“The City of Buffalo is focused on healing after several days and nights of calm and constructive meetings and protests about how we take action to achieve racial equity and a good future for our residents and community,” he said, according to the news outlet.
“We will not be distracted from this urgent work. Our focus on positive change is stronger than ever. My administration remains hopeful that Mr. Gugino will experience a full recovery. And that the officers involved in this incident receive due process under law,” he added.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo later weighed in, slamming the president for his tweet, which he said “pours gasoline on the fire.”
“There’s no fact to any of it,” Cuomo said during his daily briefing. “He should apologize for that tweet. How reckless, how mean, how cruel.”
He added: “What do you think it was staged? You think the blood coming out of his head was staged?”
On Monday, Zarbone said her client remains hospitalized.
“He is in serious but stable condition. Martin has acknowledged and sincerely appreciates the tremendous outpouring of support he has received nationwide,” she said in a statement, according to WGRZ. “Martin and his family continue to request privacy as they focus on Martin’s health and recovery.”
Two officers caught in the footage pushing Gugino to the ground, where he lay heavily bleeding on the pavement, have pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault.
Police Officers Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski, who have been suspended without pay, have been released without bail.
Their 57 fellow officers on the emergency team have resigned from the unit in solidarity with the two cops.
Gugino has been described as a “longtime peace activist.” Mayor Byron Brown described him as an “agitator.”
With reporting by Bernadette Hogan