Joe Miller's Guards Handcuffed Me, Editor Claims
The editor of an online Alaska news site said he was handcuffed and detained by private security guards working for Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller at a town hall meeting Sunday night.
Tony Hopfinger, editor of the online Alaska Dispatch, told KTUU-TV that security pushed him as he tried to question Miller. He said he pushed back and that guards then detained him, accusing him of trespassing at the public event in Anchorage.
The Dispatch is among the media outlets suing for access to Miller's personnel record from his time as a government attorney.
Miller security guard William Fulton said Hopfinger was escorted away from the meeting after ignoring requests to stop putting a camera in the candidate's face.
No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed.
In a statement later, Miller said Hopfinger took "advantage of a Town Hall meeting to create a publicity stunt just two weeks before the election."
The statement said security officials had to take action to detain "the irrational blogger."
In a report of the confrontation on his website, Hopfinger said he was attempting to pose questions to Miller about his tenure as an attorney for the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
The issue has become a campaign sore point and Miller said last week that he will no longer answer reporters' questions about his background and personal life.
Hopfinger told The Anchorage Daily News that after Miller walked away, he was surrounded by Miller supporters and security guards and felt threatened, so he pushed one of them away.
Tea Party-backed Miller is seeking Sen. Lisa Murkowski's seat in next month's vote after upsetting her in the August primary. He was thrust into the national political debate with an endorsement last June by Sarah Palin.