A Tennessee motorist accused of running Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) off the road because he supported the House Trumpcare bill is due back in court next month.
Wendi L. Wright, 35, was arraigned Monday in Weakley County Circuit Court on a felony charge of reckless endangerment with a vehicle. Wright has been free on bond since her arrest in the May 8 incident.
Kustoff said he and an aide were driving from a meeting at the University of Tennessee at Martin a week ago when Wright drove up behind their car and “placed [them] in fear of being forced off the roadway,” according to the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department.
Kustoff turned into the driveway of an acquaintance. Wright followed, got out, yelled at him and beat on his window, according to the sheriff.
“What she was saying was more cursing at the congressman and his aides,” Sgt. Marty Plunk told NBC affiliate WMC Action News 5. “But, I think the basis of all of it was a health care vote that he had cast that she was upset with.”
Wright stood in front of Kustoff’s car to block it, but fled after someone called 911. Deputies nabbed Wright after she mentioned the confrontation on Facebook.
BuzzFeed News reported Sunday that the creator of a crowdfunding page for Wright ― which has since been removed ― said Kustoff had ignored Wright’s repeated attempts to speak with him.
Kustoff, who voted in favor of the Republican health care bill that aims to repeal Obamacare, has been refusing to hold town hall meetings with the people he represents. About 200 people have signed a petition urging Kustoff to hold a public town hall. Social media comments about the congressman’s withdrawal from facing constituents are littered with complaints.
A spokeswoman for Kustoff didn’t immediately respond to request for comment.
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