UPDATE: 4:03 Eastern
We are informed by Gov. Bobby Jindal's office that there were no "Palin pins" involved in the attack on his top campaign fundraiser last Friday night in New Orleans. It's nice to know that they have some of the facts, but not sharing some actual facts about what happened with the rest of the world will only continue to fuel speculation.
Another substantial update to the brutal beating and the Jindal challenge of the "Palin pin" allegation is available here on The Hayride - a local Louisiana publication.
(Full statement of Gov. Bobby Jindal's spokesman is included below.)
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
Friday evening outside of a $10,000-per-plate Republican fundraiser at Brennan’s Restaurant in New Orleans, a top fundraiser for Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal -along with her boyfriend - were assaulted as they walked to their vehicle parked two blocks away.
New allegations of a political motivation for the brutal beating have surfaced on the local Louisiana blog The Hayride.
Two people at the Brennan’s event have now confirmed that the protest had largely broken up by the time it ended, but we also understand from someone who visited Allee Bautsch in the hospital Saturday morning that she and Brown were followed and attacked expressly because they had Palin pins on (she heard one of the attackers say “Let’s get them, they have Palin pins on” - so the attack WAS politically motivated as its victims understood it. It was not a mugging, it was not an argument gone wrong and it was not a bar fight.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune is reporting Allee Bautsch suffered a broken leg and her boyfriend Joe Brown suffered a concussion, a broken jaw and a broken nose in the attack. Bautch required surgery over the weekend with an estimated 2-3 month recovery time.
Not exactly the type of injuries one suffers from a random robbery/mugging.
“NOPD is investigating the incident and we are refraining from further comment to allow them to fully investigate and ensure justice is done,” Kyle Plotkin, Jindal spokesman, said. “Our prayers are with Allee. She is a strong person and we are sure she will make a speedy recovery.”
The event was part of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC) events that drew 200-300 protesters bouncing from event to event throughout the day on Friday, ending up at the high-dollar event at Brennan’s Restaurant that evening.
DEVELOPING…
Full statement from Kyle Plotkin, spokesperson for Gov. Jindal:
Friday night, the Governor’s campaign fundraiser, Allee Bautsch, and her boyfriend were involved in an altercation in the French Quarter with a group of people.
While there were protestors around at that time, we are not aware of any evidence that the individuals involved in the altercation were protestors.
Allee’s leg was badly broken in the incident, she has had surgery, and she is facing a recovery time of two to three months. Her boyfriend had a concussion, and also a fractured nose and jaw. They are both expected to fully recover.
NOPD is investigating the incident and we are refraining from further comment to allow them to fully investigate and ensure justice is done. Our prayers are with Allee. She is a strong person and we are sure she will make a speedy recovery.
