Contradicting Accounts: Iowa Police Challenge Ramaswamy Campaign Crash Narrative

Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign has alleged that two protesters intentionally rammed his car in retaliation for the Republican presidential candidate's remarks opposing aid for Ukraine. However, police in Grinnell, central Iowa, are disputing this claim, stating that there is no evidence to support the assertion that the crash was intentional. The police account of the incident sharply diverges from Ramaswamy's campaign's version of events. The campaign claimed that protesters verbally abused Ramaswamy before one of them got into a vehicle, rammed his empty campaign car, and fled the scene.

The campaign maintains that the driver was a protester and that there were two people in the car involved in the crash. Both vehicles sustained minor damage, and no injuries were reported. A 22-year-old woman, who accidentally hit Ramaswamy's car while backing out of her parking spot, reported the incident to the police. She denied being part of any protest, stating that she did not know whose vehicle she had hit, did not purposefully cause the crash, and did not leave the scene. The woman received a traffic summons for unsafe backing.

Ramaswamy's spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, asserts that the campaign stands by its assessment that the driver was a protester based on her experiences at the scene. However, the woman involved in the accident has not responded to requests for comment. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and author, was in Grinnell for an interview with a local news affiliate before heading to Des Moines for a family campaign event. Despite the incident, his campaign confirmed that the event would proceed as planned. The candidate does travel with private security, but he does not have a Secret Service detail.

McLaughlin described the protesters as creating a commotion prior to the crash, honking their horns, gesturing aggressively, and using profanity. Ramaswamy condemned the actions of the two individuals responsible for the crash while affirming his support for peaceful protests. Grinnell, a small city in Poweshiek County, is home to Grinnell College, a liberal arts school with an enrollment of about 1,700 students. Ramaswamy is not the first candidate to experience a car-related incident during this election season. In July, his rival Ron DeSantis was involved in a multi-car accident in Tennessee, but he emerged unharmed. As investigations continue, Ramaswamy's campaign is calling on supporters to stand for free speech and contribute to his campaign.