Rand Paul Protester’s Shady Past: From Beijing Olympics to NY to NOLA

From the Associated Press/FOX News on Tuesday afternoon:

A Rand Paul supporter is apologizing after he was seen on video stepping on a liberal activist’s head.

Tim Profitt, a volunteer with the Republican’s U.S. Senate campaign, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the camera angle made the scuffle Monday night appear worse that it was. He criticized police for not stepping in and says other supporters warned authorities about the activist.

Lauren Valle, a 23-year-old with the group MoveOn.org, was wrestled to the ground by Paul supporters when she tried to confront the tea party favorite with a fake award. Valle said Tuesday she was sore and swollen.

The Paul campaign cut ties with Profitt, removing him from his role as Bourbon County campaign coordinator and banning him from campaign events.

Let me start this post by saying, I denounce unnecessary physical aggression.  Violence of any sort against a woman is especially repugnant.  I commend the Paul campaign for taking the appropriate course of action in this case.

Not surprisingly though, some on the left are already holding Valle up as a martyr.  Just graduated from Columbia University with a bachelor’s degree in Religion.  Recently finished a solar installation project.  Environmental activist.  She was just there to exercise her right to freedom of speech …

The truth is, this is not Lauren Valle’s first brush with controversy as a professional protester.  Nor is it her first brush with the law.

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