Rand Paul strategist claims Rubio aide punched him in the face Rand Paul strategist claims Rubio aide punched him in the face

An alleged physical altercation in a bar between two presidential campaign staffers cast an ugly shadow over the start of the Republican Leadership Conference on Michigan's Mackinac Island, where a slew of presidential candidates are gathering for a weekend cattle call.

John Yob, a Michigan political consultant working for Rand Paul, says he was punched in the face late Thursday by Marco Rubio's deputy campaign manager, Rich Beeson, at the nearby Horn's Bar. Yob, who is national political director and chief strategist of Paul's Michigan campaign, quickly took to Facebook to publicize the incident and demand that Rubio fire Beeson.


"Last night I went to a bar on Mackinac Island for the GOP Mackinac Conference. I ran into a guy named Rich Beeson, who frankly I didn't even know who it was at first because he isn't relevant in our political world. Anyway, he is Marco Rubio's national campaign manager. He literally physically assaulted me by punching me in the face," Yob wrote in a Facebook post early Friday morning. "The state police are looking for him. I have it on video, from multiple angles. This will play out in the national media in the next few hours."

Yob ensured that national media had additonal details. Asked for proof of the incident, Yob sent a cell phone photo of Beeson flipping him off, with both hands, and promised video of the punch later. Security video purporting to show the incident began circulating on social media late Friday morning. Mackinac Island police are looking into the matter.

“There was a complaint made of an alleged assault,” said Mackinac Island police Chief Brett Riccinto, who said he’s still waiting to receive video of the incident. “Until then I don’t want to make a statement.” The complaint, he added, would be forwarded to a local prosecutor.

Later Friday morning, Yob called on Rubio "to fire Beeson immediately."

Via Yob, here's the video of the alleged punch pic.twitter.com/jsZIVqhstO — Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) September 18, 2015







The Paul campaign declined to say whether it had sanctioned Yob's call for Rubio to fire Beeson and declined to weigh in on the incident. A spokesman for Rubio's campaign said the campaign was aware of the incident and is seeking additional information.

Yob also forwarded an email exchange in which he alerted Rubio campaign manager Terry Sullivan of the incident. According to the email exchange, Sullivan at first believed Yob wasn't serious but then apologizes for assuming it was a joke.

"It is understandable that he would have initially thought that this was too crazy to actually be true," Yob said in an email to POLITICO. "The Rubio campaign is not to blame. Today I hope that he and Senator Rubio will take action on this matter as the state police investigate."

