White nationalist who pushed woman at Trump rally could lose probation

Louisville prosecutors want probation revoked for the leader of a white nationalist group who repeatedly pushed a woman at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Louisville in 2016.

Citing new charges out of Orange County, Indiana, prosecutors in the Jefferson County Attorney's Office argue 27-year-old Matthew Heimbach has violated the terms of his probation in Louisville.

Heimbach pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree disorderly conduct in July 2017, agreeing to attend anger management classes.

He avoided jail time when District Court Judge Stephanie Pearce Burke waived a 90-day sentence on the condition he not re-offend within two years.

In a motion filed late Monday, prosecutors point to a new felony and misdemeanor battery charges as grounds for a judge to revoke probation, court records show. The motion is scheduled to be heard in court May 15.

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Heimbach, leader of the Traditionalist Worker Party, was arrested in March after police say he got into a fight at a Paoli, Indiana, mobile home park where he was confronted by a fellow party leader over an alleged affair, according to a police report.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups across the country, describes the Traditionalist Worker Party as "a neo-Nazi group that advocates for racially pure nations and communities and blames Jews for many of the world’s problems."

The Louisville case steams from a Trump campaign rally in March 2016.

Heimbach screamed and yelled at Trump protester and University of Louisville student Kashiya Nwanguma and pushed her repeatedly to make her leave the Kentucky International Convention Center, where the Trump rally was taking place, according to court records.

He was originally charged with harassment with physical contact, a misdemeanor.

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Heimbach entered an Alford plea, which allows the defendant to plead guilty while maintaining their innocence and acknowledging prosecutors had enough evidence to convince a jury.

A federal civil suit is also pending against Heimbach, Trump and others stemming from the incident at the rally.

Protesters, including Nwanguma, allege they were assaulted by audience members who were riled up by Trump. Heimbach has said in court filings he acted at the urging of the then-presidential candidate.

The case is pending before the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at 502-582-4989 or mglowicki@courier-journal.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/mattg.