As 100 Percent Fed Up reported, former Arizona Senator Martha McSally informed the public that she was sexually assaulted on Wednesday during a run alongside the Missouri River.
The incident reportedly occurred near the border of Iowa and Nebraska.
Former Arizona Sen. Martha McSally (R) said she was sexually assaulted during a run alongside the Missouri River, near the border of Iowa and Nebraska. https://t.co/qM6NIpUyBe
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 9, 2023
Per Fox News:
“And I just had it put to the test,” she said. “A man came up behind me, and he engulfed me in a bear hug, and he molested and fondled me until I fought him off.”
“I was in a fight-flight-or-freeze, and I chose to fight,” she added. “I ran after him, I threw my water bottle at him, and I chased him into the brush, where he was then hiding as I called 911 and waited for the police to come. I don’t think they found him, and I’m OK.”
The former Republican senator said she was OK.
The incident occurred just before 10:55 a.m. in Council Bluffs, Iowa, near the Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park by the Interstate 480 overpass, the Council Bluff’s Police Department said.
Former Arizona Sen. Martha McSally said Wednesday that a man engulfed her in a bear hug and molested her as she was out jogging earlier in the day, she detailed in a video posted to Instagram. https://t.co/ns9DhdW7oI
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) November 9, 2023
UPDATE:
Council Bluffs Police identified a suspect and arrested a man for the alleged assault.
Iowa police arrest suspect after alleged sexual assault of former Arizona Sen. Martha McSally: report https://t.co/yuUDYFaIxe
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) November 10, 2023
WOWT reports:
CBPD released surveillance camera images that the department said show 25-year-old Dominic Henton of Papillion “as he followed Sen. McSally eastbound over the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and then southbound onto the trail.”
In an Instagram video about the incident, McSally said a man grabbed her “in a bear hug” then molested and fondled her until she fought him off. She said she threw her water bottle at him and chased him into the brush, where he hid before running off.
Police issued an arrest warrant for Henton on Thursday night, charging him with one count of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. According to CBPD, Henton “is believed to be transient… and may frequent the area of the Riverfront on both the Iowa and Nebraska sides.”
BREAKING: Council Bluffs Police release photos of suspect accused of trying to sexually assault former US Sen. Martha McSally (AZ).
Police say McSally fought off the attacker while she was jogging near the Nebraska-Iowa border.
Suspect: Dominic Henton, 25, transient pic.twitter.com/ebxs1LgN9p
— Bill Schammert (@BillSchammert) November 10, 2023
JUST IN: The man identified overnight as the suspect in this week's assault of former Arizona Senator Martha McSally has been arrested. A warrant for the arrest 25-year-old Dominic Henton of Papillion was issued last night.
Details: https://t.co/n4Vx9NR75X
— 6 News WOWT (@WOWT6News) November 10, 2023
Fox News added:
Investigators released images they say show Henton following McSally “eastbound over the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and then southbound onto the trail.”
“Senator McSally can be seen walking in front of Henton in the photos,” the Council Bluffs Police Department said.
Police say McSally was assaulted “as she was jogging on the River’s Edge Service Road south of I-480 bridge underpass.”
“McSally fought off the attacker and chased him into a dense area of brush near the I-480 bridge,” Council Bluffs Police added. “McSally lost sight of the suspect prior to the officers arriving.”
Henton was described as a White male who is believed to be a transient who frequents the area of the riverfront on both sides of the Iowa-Nebraska border.
McSally, who has previously spoken about being a rape survivor, detailed the ordeal in an Instagram video. She said she was running along the river when a man came from behind her and “engulfed me.” She noted that she was slated to speak in Omaha, Nebraska, about “courage and heart, and how to be a brave heart.”