Watch CBS News

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz Hit By Flying Drink Cup

PENSACOLA (CBSMiami/AP) — While protesting a Florida congressman, one person took things a step too far.

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who frequently appears on television supporting President Donald Trump, was struck by a thrown drink as he left a town hall.

Gaetz wasn't injured Saturday when he was struck by a plastic cup lobbed by a protester in Pensacola, Florida.

Video posted online shows the second-term Republican leaving a coffee house while about 20 protesters chanted their opposition. The cup struck Gaetz in the back.

Amanda Kondrat'yev was charged with misdemeanor battery and released on $1,000 bond. She briefly ran against Gaetz in 2016 before dropping out.

Gaetz tweeted about the incident saying, "Clearly it takes more than a drink to slow down our great team."

Gaetz is currently being investigated by the Florida Bar over a tweet he sent earlier this year about Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen.

The potentially intimidating tweet came in February on the eve of Cohen's testimony criticizing Trump before a House committee. Cohen is imprisoned after pleading guilty to several crimes.

Gaetz tweeted: "Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if she'll remain faithful when you're in prison. She's about to learn a lot..."

Also earlier this year, Gaetz got into a heated exchange with the father of a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School victim during a hearing on Capitol Hill.

During the House's first hearing in years on gun violence prevention, Manuel Oliver interrupted Gaetz when the congressman began arguing that illegal immigration, not firearms, poses a greater threat to national security and thus requires a wall along the US-Mexico border.

Oliver's son Joaquin was one of 17 people murdered at the Parkland school in February of 2018.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.