2018 ELECTIONS
‘Flat Out Voter Intimidation’: Trump Supporter With Barking German Shepherd Parks Outside Polling Place
A “known, excited” Donald Trump supporter was parked outside a Virginia Beach, Virginia polling precinct on Election Day, with his barking German Shepherd dog on the roof of his pickup truck.
CBS News affiliate WFMY reports some voters are telling them he is making them uncomfortable, but “election officials tell 13News Now the man wasn’t violating any laws.”
“What the heck is happening in Virginia Beach??” Norfolk, Virginia City Councilwoman Andria McClellan asked in a Facebook post, with the photo attached (below). “There’s a German Shepherd standing on top of a pick up angrily barking at voters as they approach the ARE voting precinct (sporting a Taylor button and Trump banner). This speaks volumes. If this isn’t voter intimidation, I don’t know what is,” she adds.
The Virginia Beach Republican Party doesn’t have a problem with what several are calling voter intimidation.
WFMY reporter Steven Graves reports a GOP party official “says the man is a known, excited Trump supporter who would do no harm.”
Representative for Republican Party of #VirginiaBeach says the man is a known, excited Trump supporter who would do no harm.
Says if there was a threat or intimidation, it wouldn’t be welcome at voting precinct and reported immediately. More on #13NewsNow this evening. pic.twitter.com/hj4zlN3uSM
— Steven Graves 13News Now (@13StevenGraves) November 6, 2018
The Virginia Beach Democrats, however, “say it was blatant intimidation,” he adds.
The German Shepherd is “wearing” a large sticker in support of GOP Rep. Scott Taylor, who is running for re-election.
Others agree it’s voter intimidation.
This morning in Virginia Beach, Virginia, right in front of a polling station at 68th and Atlantic Ave.
Dog on roof barking at folks, making them feel uncomfortable.
I’m pro-dog anything (everything) but this is flat out voter intimidation.https://t.co/ttnyHWIL1V pic.twitter.com/8qntKD9YHA
— Bryan Harnsberger Psy.D (@PSYCH_HYPE) November 6, 2018
UPDATE: 4:35 PM ET –
The Virginian-Pilot reports the man was outside the polling facility for about 45 minutes, and “was asked to leave by a police officer.”
The Trump supporter “told campaign workers that he worked for Homeland Security and that he had ‘200 of those dogs’ and he was headed to the border.”
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