Davis Campaign Staffer Arrested At Event, Charged With Aggravated Battery
SPRINGFIELD - An incident that erupted Wednesday night at JP Kelly’s Bar, 300 E. Adams St. in Springfield has gained significant news outlet and social media attention. Springfield police say U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis’ campaign field director Levi Lovell, purposely attended a Betsy Dirksen Londrigan campaign event to get them to make an inappropriate statement. Londrigan is running for the congressional seat that Davis now holds.
Lovell was asked to leave JP Kelly's after, according to witnesses, shouting into Londrigan's face, harassing and shoving people while holding up a cell phone to record the reactions to his actions. He also is on camera shouting obscenities and alleging improper treatment at the bar because of his race as he was asked to leave. A body guard from JP Kelly’s managed to get Lovell out of the front door of the bar where he continued to create a disturbance. Lovell was arrested and charged with aggravated battery. Lovell is a resident of Hillsboro.
The Davis campaign fired Lovell on Thursday after learning of the charge and incident, Davis’ campaign manager Matt Butcher said. The video of Lovell’s antics were becoming viral on social media and traditional media outlets nationwide. “As soon as I was made aware of the incident, his employment was immediately terminated. This campaign has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or violence of any kind.”
U.S. Rep. Davis said: "My sincerest apologies to Betsy, her husband Tom, and everyone at JP Kelly's. The incident involving a young field representative on my campaign should have never happened and his employment was immediately terminated. His actions go against everything I stand for and go directly against what I have been promoting, which is more civility in politics. This kind of behavior will never be tolerated on my campaign or with anyone on my staff." Davis, an ardent Trump supporter, was asked if he could make a statement that he either supports or condemns the rhetoric coming from the President that many believe emboldens people to behave badly. As of the time this was published, no response or statement was offered.
Betsy Dirksen Londrigan had this statement: “I’m relieved that my family, staff, and supporters are all ok and that this incident didn’t escalate even further. I am disturbed that someone would show up to an event and try to harass and intimidate me and my family, but he is sorely mistaken if he thinks that it is going to slow me down one bit. Nasty, divisive politics do nothing for our community. I will continue to hold public town halls, campaign with civility, and show this office and voters the respect they deserve.”
Emma Brown, Dirksen-Londrigan’s campaign manager said: “It’s clear that Rodney Davis is worried about his re-election, but that is no excuse for his staff’s actions. Rodney needs to answer very clearly whether he or his campaign were aware of what this young man planned to do or even directed him to attend the event and try to intimidate Betsy, her family, and her supporters.”
