Alleged altercation at a country club leads to finger-pointing among mayors, with each accusing the other of instigating the physical confrontation involving bodyslamming.
Politics can be a real dogfight. Take the case of Rome, New York, where the current and former mayors are locked in a heated feud that spilled over to the parking lot of a country club. That's not the kind of scenario anyone in politics wants to find themselves in, but such is life.
According to the Daily Sentinel, police are investigating the incident that occurred at the Teugega Country Club between Mayor Jeffrey M. Lanigan and former Mayor James F. Brown on Tuesday night. Both mayors are offering dramatically different accounts of what happened, with claims of intoxication and a body slam flying back and forth.
Brown, the former mayor, says he was talking to someone in the parking lot when Lanigan, the current mayor, suddenly body-slammed him with no warning. He suffered a bloody injury to his arm, which he sought treatment for at a local hospital. "He body-slammed me into the car. I didn't see him coming," Brown told the Sentinel.
But Lanigan paints a very different picture. He claims he approached Brown in a respectful manner to discuss something, but Brown responded aggressively with wild arm flails. Lanigan acknowledges that there was a level of intoxication involved, but denies any physical assault took place. He assisted Brown into a designated driver's vehicle and ended the situation shortly thereafter.
Brown is adamant that Lanigan's account is a lie, and he's holding onto hope that there's video evidence of the incident that will back up his claims. He's also been pressure to drop the matter, but he's not backing down. "This is political theatre," Brown said, and it seems the popcorn is out for this show.
The investigation is ongoing, and the differing accounts of what transpired highlight the tension between the two former allies. With potential video evidence on the table, the truth could soon be revealed. In the meantime, this drama unfolds in the city of Rome, New York.
The ongoing investigation regarding the altercation between Mayor Jeffrey M. Lanigan and former Mayor James F. Brown at the Teugega Country Club in Rome, New York, has found its way into the realm of general-news, transforming the local issue into a nationally discussed topic. This incident, marked by disagreement, accusations of bet-induced actions, and allegations of assault in crime-and-justice, raises questions about the conduct in politics. The differing accounts of what transpired and the potential video evidence could shed light on the truth, adding more drama to this ongoing saga.
