Female pundits from some of the nation’s largest media outlets are calling for the firing of Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump’s embattled campaign manager.
“Never in this line of work is it acceptable to respond to reasonable and legitimate questioning with use of physical force,” 16 female members of the media wrote in a letter released Wednesday. “The photographs, audio, videos, and witness accounts documenting the treatment of Michelle Fields by Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump’s campaign manager, are inexcusable and unprofessional.”
“Donald Trump should immediately remove Lewandowski from his campaign.”
Most of the signers of the letter are conservative members of the media, including Fox News contributors Katie Pavlich and Meghan McCain, and CNN contributor and New York Daily News columnist S.E. Cupp. Pavlich is also a columnist for The Hill.
Lewandowski was charged earlier this week with simple battery for allegedly grabbing former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields. Video released by the Jupiter, Fla. Police Department appears to show Lewandowski holding Fields back from the GOP presidential candidate following a press conference at Trump National Golf Club in early March. Fields says Lewandowski bruised her arm.
Trump and his campaign have stood by Lewandowski since Fields made the allegation, saying he is “absolutely innocent of this charge” and will plead not guilty. The campaign has also said Lewandowski will keep his job regardless of the outcome.
Since Fields filed the charges, Trump has made several public statements about the former reporter in an effort to defend his campaign manager, calling her a “very aggressive person” and threatening to file charges against her for touching him while asking questions.
Fields, along with an editor and spokesman, resigned from Breitbart following the incident after the site published a story challenging her description of events.