State Lawmaker's Daughter Charged With Attacking Rival Candidate
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The daughter of a state representative from Chicago faces felony charges she and her boyfriend attacked the man who was running against her mother in the primary election.
Robert Zwolinski, 30, ran against state Rep. Cynthia Soto in the Democratic primary for the 4th Representative District on Tuesday.
He said about a week before the election, a man and a woman attacked him in the 800 block of North Ashland Avenue, when he confronted them about putting up posters for Soto outside his campaign office.
Zwolinski said the pair hit him in the head with a beer bottle, broke his nose, and used a staple gun to put a staple in his forehead.
"As they say, it's a contact sport, but you never knew that was literally the case," he said.
Police said Jessica Soto and Bradley Fichter, both 26, each have been charged with three counts of aggravated battery. Fichter also has been charged with disorderly conduct, for allegedly filing a false police report claiming Zwolinski attacked him.
Zwolinski said his jaw dropped when police and prosecutors told him Jessica Soto is the daughter of his opponent.
"I just could not believe that. I assumed it was a relative, just due to the passion of the individuals, but I had no idea," he said.
Fichter and Jessica Soto appeared in bond court Friday and were later released.
Frank Avila, an attorney for the defendants, said "the charges are false and defamatory."