Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy insists his car was intentionally hit by protesters.
However, law enforcement officials are telling a different story.
After a stop in Grinnell, Iowa, Ramaswamy posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Had a civil exchange with protestors today, right before two of them then got into their car [and] rammed it into ours.”
“Those two should be held accountable, but the rest of the peaceful protestors shouldn’t be tarred by the behavior of two bad actors,” he added.
Had a civil exchange with protestors today, right before two of them then got into their car & rammed it into ours. Those two should be held accountable, but the rest of the peaceful protestors shouldn’t be tarred by the behavior of two bad actors. https://t.co/AePWupLDEj
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) October 5, 2023
Meanwhile, Ramaswamy’s spokesperson Tricia Mclaughlin shared a video purporting to provide evidence the incident was intentional.
“Here are the protestors flicking us off as they laid on the horn and yelled ‘fu** you,’ among other profanities, before reverse-ramming their car into ours,” she wrote on X.”
The video appears to show a driver giving Ramaswamy the middle finger, and backing up. However, it does not include footage of the actual collision or proof it was intentional.
Here are the protestors flicking us off as they laid on the horn and yelled “fu** you,” among other profanities, before reverse-ramming their car into ours. The police never contacted us about the statement. https://t.co/CFsatVY5FO pic.twitter.com/bmBVGDT3Ug
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) October 6, 2023
In a statement after the incident, the Grinnell Police Department said it dispatched officers to the scene in response to a “property damage accident.”
“Upon arrival GPD contacted a Celia Meagher, 22 y.0., of Grinnell, who stated she had just eaten lunch at Jay’s Deli, located in the back of Saints Rest Coffee House, got into her 2007 Honda Civic, blue in color, bearing MN plates, and began backing out of her parking spot, to proceed northbound on Broad Street,” the statement said.
It went on, “While backing up she accidentally made contact with a 2023 Ford Expedition, black in color, bearing FL plate YRP043, her Honda’s rear passenger side bumper impacted the driver side rear bumper of the Ford. The Ford was parked on the opposite side of the street, unoccupied at the time of the accident.”
The Grinnell Police Department refutes Vivek Ramaswamy’s claim that protesters intentionally hit his car this afternoon in Iowa. “Our investigation has revealed no evidence to substantiate that information,” a news release says. pic.twitter.com/tR2u8NLQJT
— Brianne Pfannenstiel (@brianneDMR) October 6, 2023
The department stated there was “minor damage” to both vehicles, and the driver was released with a summons for “unsafe backing.” It also added Ramaswamy’s vehicle was a rental.
Finally, the statement said, “The purpose of this media release is to clarify information circulating on social media concerning the details of this accident. It was reported on social media that two protestors intentionally rammed into the Ramaswamy’s vehicle and fled the scene.”
“Our investigation has revealed no evidence to substantiate that information. Meagher stated she was not in the area to protest, she did not know who the vehicle she struck belonged to, she did not intentionally back into the vehicle, and she did not flee the scene of the accident,” it added.