‘Illegal any day of the week’: Man in MAGA hat punched elderly poll worker who told him to take it off, authorities say

A man in a MAGA hat punched a poll worker who had told him to take it off while at the voting site, according to deputies in Bexar County, Texas.

The defendant, Jesse Lutzenberger, 63, is charged with injury to an elderly person, online records show. He posted a $30,000 bond on Friday.

Sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters in a press conference that the suspect, who he did not name, showed up at an early voting location at the Johnston Branch Library on Thursday.

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Lutzenberger initially complied when the polling worker, a 69-year-old man, told him to take off the hat, authorities said.

Salazar vaguely described the apparel as supporting a political candidate and he declined to elaborate, simply pointing toward the sheriff’s office report for those who wanted to learn more. For authorities, the problem was not the candidate in particular, but the fact that it was relevant clothing at a polling site. That is electioneering, which is prohibited, the sheriff said.

Regarding the alleged assault, Salazar’s stated goal with the press conference was to “bring down the tone” regarding political animus.

“I’m trying to calm the mood down a bit,” he said.

The apparel was described as a red “Make America Great Again” hat, according to documents obtained by San Antonio ABC affiliate KSAT. This is the primary symbol of GOP candidate and former President Donald Trump.

Though Lutzenberger initially took off the hat, he put it on again after voting, authorities said. The poll worker again told him to take off the hat and began to escort him out.

Salazar described surveillance footage, saying that at one point, Lutzenberger appeared to throw back an arm toward the victim. From his vantage point, the sheriff said he was not sure if the arm connected, but the victim seemed to push off the suspect. Lutzenberger then turned and threw punches at the victim’s face, he said.

Salazar described the victim as sustaining marks on his face. Authorities later tracked down Lutzenberger at his home. According to the sheriff, the man came out of the house and identified himself as the person they were seeking. He was taken downtown, questioned, and booked for injury to an elderly person, the sheriff said.

Though Lutzenberger and the poll voter are close in age, Salazar described the defendant as able-bodied and emphasized his size, estimating him to be near six feet and 240 or 250 pounds. The defendant’s behavior was wrong, regardless of the context, politics or not, the sheriff said.

“That’s illegal any day of the week,” he said.

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