{"id":15803,"date":"2026-07-09T16:54:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T16:54:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=15803"},"modified":"2026-07-09T16:54:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T16:54:50","slug":"maine-man-ronald-staples-charged-with-assaulting-journalist-joe-sokol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=15803","title":{"rendered":"Maine man Ronald Staples charged with assaulting journalist Joe Sokol"},"content":{"rendered":"


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NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A Maine man is facing charges after a viral video captured him allegedly assaulting a local journalist at an apparent Democratic-led protest.<\/p>\n

The undated video posted Tuesday shows The Maine Wire\u2019s Joe Sokol speaking to demonstrators at a protest challenging President Donald Trump \u2014 among other political flashpoints \u2014 in the city of Bangor.<\/p>\n

“When we find out that somebody is not a good person, we don\u2019t vote for them,” one woman can be heard telling Sokol, as she carries a sign depicting an upside-down American flag.<\/p>\n

TPUSA REPORTER SAVANAH HERNANDEZ ASSAULTED DURING MINNEAPOLIS ICE PROTEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

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An apparent anti-Donald Trump protester is facing an assault charge after a viral video appeared to show him allegedly shoving a Maine Wire journalist at an undated event.<\/span> (Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

As Sokol walks away following a brief interview with the woman, a man wearing a white shirt and carrying a sign that reads “Healthcare 4 all” appears to shove the journalist and cameraman.<\/p>\n

“Whoa, whoa, that\u2019s assault,” Sokol is heard saying as the man walks away.<\/p>\n

As the man storms away from Sokol, a woman carrying an American flag can be seen following him with her hand on his shoulder and apologizing profusely.<\/p>\n

TPUSA REPORTER SAYS FAMILY CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING HER IS NOW TRYING TO SILENCE HER WITH RESTRAINING ORDERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Protesters wave American flags and hold up signs during a “No Kings” demonstration.<\/span> (Fox News Digital)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Sokol then confronts the man, asking, “Why would you just do that?”<\/p>\n

“I didn\u2019t see you,” the man replied while walking down a sparse line of fellow demonstrators, each carrying signs that appeared to push anti-Trump rhetoric.<\/p>\n

“Excuse me, sir, would you like to tell me why you just assaulted me?” Sokol asked. “Would you like to tell me why you just assaulted me?”<\/p>\n

VIDEO SHOWS OFF-DUTY FLORIDA SHERIFF’S SERGEANT ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING ELDERLY COUPLE AT BAR<\/strong><\/p>\n

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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C.<\/span> (REUTERS\/Evelyn Hockstein)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The man appears to not respond to Sokol, as the unidentified woman offers a string of apologies to the journalist.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m sorry, we don\u2019t do that,” the woman can be heard telling Sokol.<\/p>\n

In another clip, Sokol can be seen attempting to interview another man at the protest when the same individual appears to back into Sokol before allegedly elbowing him.<\/p>\n

The man does not appear to exchange words with Sokol throughout the video and details surrounding any type of confrontation remain unclear.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

The incident was subsequently reported to the Bangor Police Department, who confirmed the man\u2019s identity to Fox News Digital as 78-year-old Ronald Staples, of the nearby city of Holden.<\/p>\n

Staples is facing one charge of assault, according to police.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/p>\n

Authorities have not yet released details surrounding what led up to or transpired immediately after the alleged assault.<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital reached out to Staples and the Maine Wire for comment but did not receive a response.<\/p>\n

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Julia Bonavita is a media and culture writer for Fox News Digital, and a Fox Flight Team drone pilot. You can follow her at @juliabonavita13 on all platforms and send story tips to julia.bonavita@fox.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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