Woman who threw drink at Gaetz sentenced to 15 days in jail

The woman who threw a drink at Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) was sentenced to 15 days in jail on Monday after Gaetz asked the federal court to put her behind bars.

Amanda Kondrat’yev faced up to a year in prison but received a 15-day jail sentence along with one year of probation and a $500 fine.

Her lawyer Eric Stevenson told NBC News that the judge recognized that “this was aberrant behavior on Ms. Kondrat’yev’s part.”

“While we were asking for no jail time, we are glad the judge went below the guidelines,” Stevenson said.

Kondrat’yev dubbed the incident “SlushieGate” on Twitter and said the sentencing was “not ideal, but I will survive.”

Thank you to everyone that helped me through this SlushieGate madness. Special thanks to Eric Stevenson of @StevensonKlotz, and to all my friends and family that were with me in person or in spirit.
15 days jail, 1 yr probation, $500 fine. Not ideal, but I will survive. pic.twitter.com/QAsGAMYzq0

— Amanda Kondrat’yev (@manderwall) November 19, 2019

Stevenson said Gaetz appeared at the sentencing hearing after asking the court earlier this month to sentence Kondrat’yev to incarceration. 

“Constituents deserve to be safe at events hosted by our congressional office,” Gaetz wrote in a victim impact statement. “My staff deserves to be safe. Their families and mine shouldn’t have to worry that while federal officials are doing their jobs, we are at risk of assault.”

The Republican lawmaker later added that his supporters are “just as passionate as my opponents.”

“They have the capability to be violent, too. My efforts to ensure ALL participants remain nonviolent are undermined greatly by the Defendant’s actions,” he wrote. “Only incarceration allows me to reinforce to my supporters and opponents alike that Free Speech is welcomed – but assault will not be tolerated.”

“If the defendant is not subject to some incarceration, then word will be out that a first assault is functionally ‘free,’” he concluded. “This will make my events, my staff and my constituents less safe.”

Gaetz on Tuesday tweeted a statement in which he said was “pleased” with the sentencing.

“I am pleased with the court’s decision today to sentence Amanda Kondrat’yev to 15 days in jail and one year of probation,” he wrote. “Physical assault has no place in our political discourse, and if individuals choose to engage in such activities at our events they will be prosecuted.”

“I am grateful law enforcement and our judicial system recognized this principle today, and I remain committed to maintaining a safe environment for my constituents at future events,” he added.

Kondrat’yev, 35, pleaded guilty in August to assaulting a member of Congress. 

She admitted to throwing a cup of red liquid at Gaetz while he was leaving a Pensacola restaurant following his “Open Gaetz” event on June 1.

Kondrat’yev was part of a group of protesters outside the event, and she reportedly held a sign that read “Gaetz wipe the blood off your hands, A+ rating NRA, save our kids vote Gaetz out 2020,” referring to the congressman’s rating by the National Rifle Association, Roll Call reported at the time.

NBC noted that Kondrat’yev ran as a Democrat for Florida’s 1st Congressional District in 2016 before withdrawing from the race, which Gaetz won.