A protester involved in a scuffle at a Donald Trump rally in Reno, Nevada denied accusations Sunday that he is an operative for Democrats.
“It’s absolutely ludicrous,” Austyn Crites said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “I stand by my principles, and that’s the reason why I felt compelled to go in there to hold up the sign.”
The registered Republican was holding a “Republicans Against Trump” sign at the Saturday night rally while the GOP nominee for president spoke. A disturbance broke out and two Secret Service agents surrounded Trump and whisked him away.
The candidate returned later to finish his remarks.
Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway told CNN the protester was “a Democratic plant or operative” but offered no details or proof.
Crites, 33, said he has donated money to Clinton’s campaign and canvassed for her last week for “a total of three hours.” But he has never met with Clinton or any campaign aides.
