CNN’s April Ryan Bodyguard Charged With Assault After Attack On Journalist

After the video made waves online and stirred up conflict as to why April Ryan refused to condemn Morris' actions, Morris has now been officially charged with harrassment, assault, and theft.

The bodyguard has been summoned to appear in court where he will face the consequences of his violence. 

Here's what Charlie Kratovil who was the reporter attacked in the video had to say about the charges:

The Epoch Times has more details:

A bodyguard for April Ryan, a political analyst for CNN, has been charged with harassment, assault, and theft after he was caught on camera taking a journalist’s equipment and appearing to strike the journalist.

Charlie Kratovil with New Brunswick Today was at an event in New Jersey on Aug. 3 where Ryan was speaking. He has shown emails that indicate he was approved to cover the event.

Kratovil said that a man approached him as Ryan was being introduced and asked: “Who are you with?” Video footage showed the man, later identified as Ryan’s bodyguard, Joel Morris, approach Ryan and then come back and take Kratovil’s camera. Another video appeared to show him assault Kratovil.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by The Epoch Times, police found probable cause to issue a summons for Morris for harassment, assault, and theft.

The complaint said that Morris grabbed Kratovil’s camera and removed it from his possession before “causing bodily injury … by chasing complaint, grabbing him from his left arm and twisting his arm behind his back causing injury to his forearm and shoulder.”

Kratovil said in a statement sent on Monday:  “This was more than just an assault on me. This was an assault on freedom of the press, and @AprilDRyan should have immediately condemned the use of violence against a journalist.”

“Because Ms. Ryan has failed to publicly address or apologize for her role in this ugly incident, I am now seeking legal counsel to initiate proceedings that will hold her accountable for the unacceptable and illegal behavior of her employee,” he added.

According to the complaint, Morris’s home address is in New Jersey. Kratovil noted the bodyguard will have to travel back to New Brunswick to appear in court.

Ryan has not commented on the situation, nor have CNN, Morris, or Shennell McCloud, the executive director of Project Ready, which was hosting the event.

The Hill stated:

A New Jersey court issued a summons Monday against the bodyguard of National Urban Radio Networks White House correspondent April Ryan over the alleged assault of a local journalist.

The incident, which was captured on video, involved Charlie Kratovil, founder and editor of the New Brunswick Today, and Ryan's bodyguard, Joel Morris, at the New Jersey Parent Summit, where Ryan was tapped as keynote speaker.

Kratovil was credentialed for the event but allegedly had his camera taken away from him by Morris, who also appears to push Kratovil out of the room, according to video footage.

A second video shows Morris giving the camera back to Kratovil in the hotel lobby while appearing to ask the local journalist to leave.

Townhall shared the following great insight into the whole fiasco and Ryan's refusal to comment on it:

When President Trump rightfully bashes the liberal media, they complain. I mean its grade-A level nonsense. It’s damaging that the president exercises his First Amendment rights. We can trash the president and peddle inaccurate stories about him, but Trump cannot do that to us. It’s a set of rules that Trump thankfully ignores. The president can and does bash the media. He should. They’re pretty much de facto Democratic operatives anyway. 

And speaking about attacks on the press, what about the bodyguard for National Urban Radio Networks White House correspondent April Ryan who manhandled a reporter? Yeah, that happened when Ryan, who is also a CNN contributor, delivered a speech at an education summit in New Jersey last week. It’s all on video. And now, that bodyguard has formally been charged with assault. Charlie Kratovil of New Brunswick Today is the alleged victim.