Man gets probation for tossing water on Iowa Rep. King

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Updated 1:06 pm CST, Friday, March 6, 2020

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Colorado man who threw a cup of water on Iowa Congressman Steve King has been sentenced to two years of probation.

The sentence was handed down Thursday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to Blake Gibbins, of Lafayette, Colorado. He'd pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault on a member of Congress. Gibbins also must perform 200 hours of community service.

Gibbins admitted in a plea agreement that he approached a table at a Fort Dodge restaurant on March 22 last year and threw a cup of water at King. The Republican congressman was seated with others.

Gibbins' attorney has said Gibbins' actions were out of character and may have resulted from recent emotional pressure. Gibbins was in Iowa for a family funeral when he approached King, and Gibbins had no criminal history.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Man-gets-probation-for-tossing-water-on-Iowa-Rep-15110262.php

---

Earlier story:

Man arrested for throwing water at Rep. Steve King at restaurant: Police
3/23/2019

. . .

According to the press release, King was "specifically targeted due to his position as a United States Representative."

King, R-Iowa, has come under fire — even by members of his own party — for comments construed as racist and homophobic.

In January, King said in an interview with The New York Times that he didn't understand why the terms "white supremacy" and "white nationalism" were considered offensive.

. . .

The House did vote on a "resolution of disapproval" against King. The vote was passed, 424-1, with only Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush voting against it — saying censure was necessary.

More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/man-arrested-for-throwing-water-at-rep-steve-king-at-restaurant-police/ar-BBV80DQ





Who on earth would ever consider throwing water on that nice Rep. Steve King? Who?

[musette_sf]

1. to make him melt?

[jls4561]

3. Ah, you beat me to it

[musette_sf]

5. GMTA

[jls4561]

7. Well, it was my first time posting a video, so it took a while

[Blue_playwright]

10. That was my question: But did he melt?

NT

[sakabatou]

11. I was gonna say that!

[jls4561]

2. Was he melting?

You go, Dorothy!

[CatMor]

4. What he should get is a trophy and reward.

[marieo1]

6. Promotion - lol

When I first read this I thought it said man gets promotion for throwing water on steve king. lol Steve King is a scumbag has been for years and always will be and deserves what he gets!!!

[Denis Enko]

8. Stephen King, Steve King

One of them is scarier than the other.

[paleotn]

9. Pity it wasn't heavy water.

[Jamastiene]

12. For fuck's sake, it is water.

That should never have been "prosecuted." Throwing a glass of water on someone doesn't count as assault. Uless the cup was made of something mighty poisonous or powerful in some way, I don't see how they can count that as assault in any way. How ridiculous he even got probation. He should never have been charged.

Why are there special rules for Congress when police would laugh if any of us complained because someone threw water on us? None of us would. We aren't that fucking special and we know we would be laughed at. The rest of us are lucky if our murders or our family members' or friends' murders get solved.

It is water, for fuck's sake. Was the water from Flint, at least? Give me a break.

[Polybius]

13. Yes, but there should be some kind of punishment

If someone threw a glass of water in Bernie's, Biden's, or Pelosi's face, I'd be pissed. No one knows that it's water at the time. You have to charge them with something.

[Jamastiene]

14. Once they confirmed it was water, it was not any kind of assault.

If someone throws water in our faces, we cannot charge them and no DA in the country would do that for the average citizen.

[Polybius]

15. If there's video they can face charges

Like I said, if someone did this to Pelosi, I'd want he or she to get a month in jail and heavy fines.

[dware]

17. +100, nt

[dware]

16. So if someone threw a cup of water on Rep. Pelosi, Sen. Sanders,

Sen. Warren, etc, you would be ok with that? You don't think the person should be prosecuted?

And yes, it is assault, it doesn't matter if it's a cup of water, a cup of, whatever, it is still defined as assault and it is prosecutable.