John Yob, aide to Rand Paul, claims Marco Rubio strategist punched him 'in the face' on Mackinac, The biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference has not yet officially begun, but the first punch has already been thrown. Literally, it seems.
Michigan consultant John Yob, who is working as national political director for presidential candidate Rand Paul, alleges that a strategist on the Marco Rubio campaign punched him in the face, although a source tells MLive the incident was personal, not political.
"Last night I went to a bar on Mackinac Island for the GOP Mackinac Conference," Yob wrote early Friday morning on Facebook. "I ran into a guy named Rich Beeson, who frankly I didn't even know who it was at first because he isn't relevant in our political world.
"Anyway, he is Marco Rubio's national campaign manager. He literally physically assaulted me by punching me in the face. The state police are looking for him. I have it on video, from multiple angles. This will play out in the national media in the next few hours."
Beeson, who previously worked for the Mitt Romney campaign in 2012, is actually Rubio's deputy campaign manager, according to The National Review and Politico.
Yob and Beeson had exchanged words earlier in the evening, according to one source, who suggested Yob was attempting to spin the story to hurt Rubio even though the encounter had nothing to do with the presidential race. MLive has reached out to Yob and the Rubio campaign for additional comment.It wasn't a brawl," Mackinac Island Police Chief Brett Riccinto told the Guardian later Friday. "If anything, it was a shove. Literally, it was a shove. This thing has been blown way, way, way out of proportion." MLive has reached out to the Mackinac PD for additional information.
West Michigan Politics blogger Brandon Hall, in a Friday morning post, said he was present at Horn's Bar on Mackinac Island when the alleged punch was thrown.
"Beeson missed a full on shot but still struck Yob's in the face with a powerful blow near the jaw," he wrote, noting that Beeson had previously been heard trying to whip votes for an island straw poll. The punch appeared unprovoked, according to Hall.
The Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference is set to begin Friday afternoon with a welcome message by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. Six presidential candidates, including Paul but not Rubio, are scheduled to speak at the event this weekend.
Michigan consultant John Yob, who is working as national political director for presidential candidate Rand Paul, alleges that a strategist on the Marco Rubio campaign punched him in the face, although a source tells MLive the incident was personal, not political.
"Last night I went to a bar on Mackinac Island for the GOP Mackinac Conference," Yob wrote early Friday morning on Facebook. "I ran into a guy named Rich Beeson, who frankly I didn't even know who it was at first because he isn't relevant in our political world.
"Anyway, he is Marco Rubio's national campaign manager. He literally physically assaulted me by punching me in the face. The state police are looking for him. I have it on video, from multiple angles. This will play out in the national media in the next few hours."
Beeson, who previously worked for the Mitt Romney campaign in 2012, is actually Rubio's deputy campaign manager, according to The National Review and Politico.
Yob and Beeson had exchanged words earlier in the evening, according to one source, who suggested Yob was attempting to spin the story to hurt Rubio even though the encounter had nothing to do with the presidential race. MLive has reached out to Yob and the Rubio campaign for additional comment.It wasn't a brawl," Mackinac Island Police Chief Brett Riccinto told the Guardian later Friday. "If anything, it was a shove. Literally, it was a shove. This thing has been blown way, way, way out of proportion." MLive has reached out to the Mackinac PD for additional information.
West Michigan Politics blogger Brandon Hall, in a Friday morning post, said he was present at Horn's Bar on Mackinac Island when the alleged punch was thrown.
"Beeson missed a full on shot but still struck Yob's in the face with a powerful blow near the jaw," he wrote, noting that Beeson had previously been heard trying to whip votes for an island straw poll. The punch appeared unprovoked, according to Hall.
The Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference is set to begin Friday afternoon with a welcome message by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. Six presidential candidates, including Paul but not Rubio, are scheduled to speak at the event this weekend.
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