Donald Trump stands by campaign boss facing battery charge

Donald Trump is standing by his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski after he was charged with battery following an altercation with a female reporter.

Mr Trump says he doesn’t “discard people” and called the situation “very unfair” to Mr Lewandowski, one of his closest advisers.

He says he hopes the matter does not change Mr Lewandowski’s role on his campaign.

Mr Lewandowski, 42, was charged with battery after allegations he forcefully grabbed a reporter.

Police in Jupiter, Florida, charged him with intentionally grabbing and bruising the arm of Michelle Fields, a reporter at the time for conservative news outlet Breitbart, when she tried to question Mr Trump at an event on March 8.

“Mr Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge,” Mr Trump’s campaign said in a statement.

“He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court. He is completely confident that he will be exonerated.”

Police released a video showing the incident.

It shows Ms Fields walking alongside Mr Trump, and Mr Lewandowski grabbing her arm and pulling her backward as she tries to question the Republican candidate.

Previous videos of the incident had been obscured by people in the crowd.

Campaign rallies for Mr Trump, who leads the race for the Republican nomination in the November 8 US presidential election, have been marked by rowdiness and occasional physical contact between protesters and supporters or security personnel.

Mr Lewandowski was charged with simple battery, defined under Florida law as intentionally touching or striking a person against their will.

For a first offence, it is a misdemeanour in the first degree, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison or a fine of $1,000 (€886).