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Round Two Of Campaign Scuffle Heats Up
Fight Breaks Out Outside Candidate Forum
POSTED: 12:24 am EDT August 18,
2006
UPDATED: 7:29 pm EDT August 18,
2006
LARGO, Md. -- Friday marked round-two of a battle between campaigns. What was supposed to be a war of words ended in a scuffle between supporters of Rep. Albert Wynn and his challenger, Donna Edwards, Wednesday evening.Edwards said Friday that she planned to hand over witness names and videotape evidence, which she didn't describe, to the county state's attorney's office. She also wants copies of 911 calls made during the incident, which she called a "brutal beating" in a statement.Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn C. Ivey said Friday his office is investigating the incident to decided whether to pursue criminal charges in the case.
Video taken by a worker for Edwards' congressional campaign showed the aftermath of the incident at a candidates' forum at Prince George's Community College. The tape shows a gash on the forehead of a volunteer for the Edwards campaign, News4 reported."It was getting to turn into a riot real quick, because more people, as we pulled them apart, more and more of the two sides were going," said George McDermott, who is also a candidate for the 4th Congressional District seat.Three men were taken into custody by members of the college police force. A representative from the school said that one person was cited for disorderly conduct.The skirmish reportedly involved placement of campaign signs outside the building where the forum took place, News4 reported.Wynn, who is a seven-term congressman, said he was not present at the time of the scuffle, but that his workers told him the Edwards volunteers started it."My people acted in self-defense, and that's basically the story. No one went to the hospital. There were no serious injuries. No one was detained. Everybody was released," Wynn said.Edwards said that the allegation that her workers started the fight is not true. She said she wants to see the Wynn campaign workers prosecuted for assault."I saw the victim's face. I saw him beaten up, and if there are no charges here, then we have to wonder what it is that the office of a congressman is doing," Edwards said.The candidates and their campaign workers met again Thursday evening at a forum at Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg. There were no further incidents.Wynn, who has won his recent elections by landslides, said he is campaigning on his record and that he had delivered services and federal money for his district.
Copyright 2006 by nbc4.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.








