The footage is striking.
But on Tuesday morning, the President of the United States suggested — without offering a shred of evidence — that the entire episode was the result of a broad scam involving Antifa, a protest organization “whose political beliefs lean toward the left — often the far left — but do not conform with the Democratic Party platform.”
Here’s the tweet from Donald Trump:
“Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?”
Trump appears to have developed this, uh, theory from watching a clip on the One America News Network, the Fox News of Fox News.
In the segment, footage is shown that suggests the man, Martin Gugino, 75, “was appearing to use common Antifa tactics” when he approached the officers.” That tactic? Using his phone to “scan” police communication. The OAN reporter claims that Gugino was using police tracking software on his phone. But there’s absolutely no way of telling that from the clip; what’s on the screen of Gugino’s phone is not visible. And he could just be gesturing with the phone.
