Advertisement Clarke, on working with Democrats, vows to 'grab one of them by the throat' Online video shows Milwaukee County Sheriff speaking at 'DeploraBall' in Washington, D.C. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Hours after someone from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office posted a meme on the agency's official Facebook account with a threat to make a citizen disappear, the sheriff himself continued the violent rhetoric at a gathering of Donald Trump supporters on the eve of the inauguration. Video posted to YouTube by Right Side Broadcasting shows Sheriff David Clarke at the "DeploraBall" at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Thursday evening. "To this day, the left doesn't know what to do with me," Clarke, a registered Democrat, told the friendly crowd of Republicans and supporters. "When I hear people say that we need to reach across the aisle and work with people, with the Democrats, you know what I say? The only reason I'll be reaching across the aisle is to grab one of them by the throat," he said, evoking cheers. "And remind them that the American people, you, have spoken, and you said you wanted Donald Trump to be the next president of the United States." The divisive remarks come as WISN 12 NEWS continues to seek comment from the sheriff about what transpired on board an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Milwaukee last week. A Riverwest man, Dan Black, filed a complaint with the county days after the flight, alleging that Clarke abused his power when he had deputies detain Black after deplaning at Mitchell International Airport. Black said his exchange with the sheriff was brief and didn't warrant him being treated "like a criminal." A day later, the sheriff's office posted a statement that Clarke "reserves the reasonable right to pre-empt a possible assault" and said that anyone who "pulls this stunt on a plane ... may get knocked out." That was followed up on Thursday with an online image with Black's photo on it that called him a "snowflake." "If Sheriff Clarke were to really harass you, you wouldn't be around to whine about it," the post said. Clarke avoided WISN 12 NEWS' questions about the plane incident and his department's response as he walked from a vehicle to a venue where a Wisconsin victory party was being held on Thursday night. Black has hired a lawyer who says will use "the full force of the legal system" to stop Clarke's attacks on his client. Share this post on Facebook