According to the original report by the The Brunswick Post, neither the disruptive man, identified as John Leonard, nor the two men who removed him had been invited to the event at Galehouse Tree Farms in Doylestown, Ohio. It was organized by a man named Tom Weyland for farmers and small business owners in the area between Akron and Canton.
But the removal sparked questions about whether or not members of Bikers for Trump, a group which has endorsed Renacci for Governor, were operating as the Congressman’s official security detail.
According to Renacci spokesman James Slepian, they were not. Bikers for Trump weren’t serving as security guards at the Nov. 4 event, nor have they been retained by Renacci’s campaign in any capacity.
Slepian told Scene by email that John Leonard, in fact, had attended other Renacci events in the past with the specific intention of being removed for disruptive comments.
“[Leonard] once again achieved his goal,” Slepian said. “In the past, law enforcement has removed him from these events. At this particular event, law enforcement was not present and Mr. Leonard was removed by event attendees.”
Leonard, in comments to reporter Bob Morehead, said he felt he’d been targeted and would have left if he’d been asked by the property owner. He called the men who removed him “junior fascists.” Tom Weyland disputed Leonard’s account. He said Leonard had been disruptive and had used inappropriate language toward young women working a concession stand.
The men who removed Leonard are thought to be members of an offshoot of the Bikers for Trump group, which was founded by Chris Cox, a chainsaw artist from South Carolina.
Scene spoke with the group’s moderator in the Midwest, Londa Gatt. She said the two men in question were likely affiliated with “Boots on the Ground,” a more militant splinter cell. (In the image above, from the Nov. 4 event, the two men’s jackets do indeed say “Boots on the Ground” above the Bikers for Trump logo.)
“We’re a political movement, all about getting the right people in office to drain the swamp,” Gatt said, referencing Bikers for Trump. “[Boots on the Ground] is all about security. I haven’t seen them in action, but they’re much more aggressive.”
This article appears in Nov 15-21, 2017.
Jackboots on the Ground. Renacci’s Waffen SS. He’s not exactly discouraging them, either.
Where were his police escorts or his security detail?
Looking at the sky? Out having a smoke in the parking lot?
And you wingnut trolls have the balls to complain about LEFTIST violence? Gimme a f’kin break. Nazi wannabees practicing for CIvil War 2.0…and they will get their wish, eventually.
Chuckles the Clown
@Chuckles, No. 1
The more correct comparison, if they were indeed security hired by Renacci, would be to the Sturmabteilung (aka Stormtroopers/brown shirts).
Until that is shown to be the case, they’re simply bullies and thugs.
Jeff Hess
Have Coffee Will Write
Sam,
I get why Leonard was there without an invitation, but If the event was “invite only,” who invited the bikers since I doubt that they’re either local farmers or small-business owners?
There’s more to this story. Please keep digging.
Jeff Hess
Have Coffee Will Write
Sam, where did you get the information that the bikers “threw him on the ground outside”? I was a witness and that is not what I saw.
Jeff, you are right. Bikers for Trump are Storm Troopers, not SS.
I was not thinking straight.
Hey, what does a Heeb know from Nazis, except to run and hide from them ?
My apologies to all good Germans…
Boots on the Ground, however, does sound like a a more ominous and threatening subset.
Chuckles the Clown
.
@Chuckles The Clown
I prefer to take my cue from Lt. Aldo Raine when it comes to dealing with all colors of “nhatsies.”
: )
Jeff
From the look and the sound of them, the Storm Trumpers in Boots on the Ground probably get their most intense jollies when the Boots on their Feet are kicking the shit out of a Body on the Ground. Thugs is thugs. And the image clearly shows a holstered sidearm, as well.
Chuckles the Clown