Local Dem leader arrested for hitting man with bullhorn says he is not a violent person

Chair Hernando County, FloridaThe Democratic Party, who was arrested for allegedly hitting a man in the head with a megaphone during the “No to Kings” protest, said he did not act aggressively and did not escalate the conflict.

Brian Stewart, 63, was charged as a simple misdemeanor in Florida and booked into the Hernando County Sheriff’s Detention Center after the incident in Spring Hill on Saturday. He was released later that day, records show.

Stewart said he was “not a violent person” and that the man he is accused of shooting — a disabled veteran identified in police reports as Thomas Michta — harassed others at the demonstration “in an attempt to provoke a reaction.”

“This was a peaceful event attended by many members of the community,” Stewart told Fox News Digital.

FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN ACCUSED OF HITTING A MAN IN THE HEAD WITH A BULLHORN AT THE ‘NO KINGS’ PROTEST

“Unfortunately, one person disrupted this atmosphere and harassed those attending the rally in order to provoke a reaction,” he continued. “At no point did I act like an aggressor. I am not a violent person and I did not seek out or escalate any conflict. I never expected to be blamed or need to defend myself as I did at that moment.”

The incident occurred as demonstrators in Hernando County and across the country protested the Trump administration’s policies.

Deputies said around 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Mariner and Cortez avenues, Stewart allegedly hit Michta in the head with a bullhorn.

Michta told deputies that he and Stewart got into an argument during the protest. According to the arrest affidavit, she accused Stewart of hitting her during the dispute and reported that she was in pain along with visible swelling to her head, WTSP reported.

Video footage recorded by a witness and reviewed by deputies shows Stewart using a bullhorn to hit the man in the head and push him into his chest, according to the affidavit.

The incident occurred as demonstrators in Hernando County and across the country protested the Trump administration’s policies. (Giorgio VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)

After reviewing the video, a witness’s statement and Stewart’s own admissions, deputies developed probable cause to believe Stewart intentionally struck the man and caused bodily harm, the affidavit said.

Stewart declined to comment further, saying his lawyers advised him not to make additional statements.

“I have many more thoughts to share, but my attorneys advise me to postpone that until the case is resolved,” Stewart told Fox News Digital. “Out of respect for the legal process and on the advice of my attorney, I will not be commenting further on the details of the case at this time.”

Stewart is scheduled to appear in court on April 27.

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Protesters hold signs and flags near President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort during the “No to Kings” national protest day on May 28, 2026 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Giorgio VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)

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The Florida Democratic Party and its Hernando County chapter issued separate statements earlier this week saying they “condemn the violence.”

“We have learned that our chairman, Brian Stewart, was arrested after responding to the provocation of a local agitator who threw drinks at him and shouted obscenities at community members during a protest,” the Hernando County Democratic Party said in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times. he said.

Florida Republican Party He called for Stewart to be removed from the presidency over the incident at the protest.

“Violence and political intimidation have no place in our state, and Floridians deserve better than the silence of Democratic leadership. Nikki Fried must remove Brian Stewart from his leadership position in the Democratic Party of Florida immediately!” Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power said in a statement to WTSP.