A Colorado man has been charged with ‘bias-motivated crimes and assault’ after allegedly attacking a reporter, accusing him of not being a U.S. citizen, while shouting, “This is Trump’s America now.”
According to police, Egan, 39, followed the car of the KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex, who later told police he believed he was targeted because he is a Pacific Islander.
After following the car for approximately 40 miles on December 18, Eagan kept shouting at him from a stoplight something to the effect of, “are you even a U.S. citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I’m a Marine and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!”
The affidavit described Egan as tackling Alex and putting him in a headlock before Egan “began to strangle him,” before co-workers ran out and help.
Patrick Egan is being held on a $20,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2025.
This is frightening on so many levels.
Trump’s anti-immigrant stance– and messaging — is emboldening people to engage in violence against any non-white immigrants, who many times are American citizens.
Trump has also fostered a war on the news media, calling them “the enemy of the people,” a “threat to democracy,” “fake,” and “crooked bastards.”
The Freedom of the Press Foundation in November said it had recorded 75 assaults on journalists since January this year – a 70% increase over 2023.
Egan is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2025.
