Van Orden says he was assaulted near RNC; police arrest 24-year-old woman

U.S. Rep Derrick Van Orden today said he was assaulted by a member of CODEPINK, a progressive, anti-war group, while the group maintains Van Orden intentionally bumped into one of its members, who is Palestinian. 

The Milwaukee Police Department confirmed to WisPoltics it is investigating an assault that occurred at approximately 11:07 a.m. today on the 400 block of E. Wisconsin Ave. The department said a 24-year-old female suspect had “battered the victim,” and she was then taken into custody. The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office is to review the charges.

The department said the victim sustained minor injuries and refused medical attention on scene.

Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, in a post on X called CODEPINK “pro-Hamas” and said the incident was another example of political violence while referencing the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump. 

“This appears to be an incident of political violence and I will never tolerate this. Regardless of the severity of the violence, political violence is political violence,” Van Orden said. “Republicans have been intimidated and targeted for years including the attempted assassination of President Trump and we will no longer standby and allow lawlessness.” 

CODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin in a post on X said the woman, Nour Jaghama, was waiting in line peacefully when Van Orden “intentionally bumped into” her and “tried to shove past her.” The post includes a video of Nour with police and Van Orden speaking with an officer.

Benjamin suggested Jaghama may have been racially profiled, noting two other CODEPINK members ahead of her passed through the line without any issues.

“It is a microcosm of the misogyny at the RNC that the more gentle non-violent woman, the only Palestinian in line with our group is assaulted and then even when she did not respond she was the one who was arrested,” Benjamin said. “CODEPINK unequivocally states that no one from our organization assaulted anyone. We attended the RNC to deliver a message of peace and disarmament, adhering strictly to non-violent protest methods.”

Benjamin’s post on X includes a video of Jaghama with police and Van Orden speaking with an officer.See a thread from CODEPINK on the incident here.