Airport police responded to an altercation involving 2022 Texas Gubernatorial Candidate Allen West and another individual on Wednesday.
According to a statement released from West’s office, the gubernatorial candidate had “flicked” a man’s mask off of his face after West was reportedly harassed. West’s Press Secretary described the man as a “left-wing partisan who cursed and insulted him for not wearing a mask.”
West’s statement on the matter was in the form of a tweet, in which he said that a man yelled at him to “put his mask on” and also allegedly insulted West. After confronting the man, whom West believed called him an “idiot,” West removed the man’s mask.
“I pulled down his mask and said see, nothing happened,” said West.
West said he “gladly” cooperated with officers after the event to file a report. The TSA still requires all travelers to wear masks when on public transport, including an airport.
“There’s no mask law, nothing has ever passed in the U.S. House and Senate making wearing a mask law,” He said.
West had also gone public on Twitter promoting treatments such as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, which are FDA and CDC approved, but not to treat COVID-19.
Allen West was a representative in the Florida 22nd Congressional District from 2011 to 2013 and was the chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.
His office condemned the harassment in a press release, saying, “West will not cave to bullying by progressive political punks. We look forward to a resolution on this matter, and as Governor, West will not tolerate abusive agitators. Rule of law and common decency will be defended.”