Full Breakdown
Assault Charge Filed and Threats Alleged After Maryland Candidate Forum
By Drooid · · How we work
The Incident and Immediate Legal Action
On October 13, 2026, a League of Women Voters forum in Cambridge, Maryland, turned contentious when Jonathan Glaser, a constituent liaison for Rep. Andy Harris, was struck in the right shoulder by Lance Simon, 68, a Democratic Central Committee member from Talbot County. Glaser filed a handwritten complaint with District Court Commissioner Nicholas Kovach, alleging second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. The commissioner approved the charges and set a hearing for later this month. If convicted, Simon faces up to ten years in prison and a $2,500 fine.
Threats to the Congressman’s Family
The following day, October 14, 2026, Harris’s office said the congressman and his family received threatening messages before and after the forum, including one that warned “blood will be drawn.” Law-enforcement agencies were notified and are reviewing the messages. Harris said the threats reflected a rise in political violence on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Press-Conference Confrontation
After the debate, Harris confronted Capital News Service reporter Cat Murphy, telling her, “You do not have my permission to record. If you record, we will refer you to prosecutors,” and asserting Maryland’s two-party consent law required both parties’ approval.
Official Responses
- Harris’s Office: Emphasized the assault charge against the individual who struck a staff member and reiterated concerns about the threatening messages.
- League of Women Voters: Moderator Glenna Heckathorn asked the audience to “take a deep breath” and allowed the debate to resume.
- University of Maryland, Merrill College: The dean affirmed that journalism students have a legal right to record in public spaces and praised Murphy’s handling of the situation.
- Society of Professional Journalists: Stated that journalists must be able to work without intimidation or threats of prosecution for routine news gathering.
Legal Analysis
Joyce Smithey, managing partner of the Smithey Law Group, said Harris was “misapplying” Maryland’s two-party consent statute, noting that a congressman speaking at a press conference does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Data and Potential Penalties
- Assault Charge: Second-degree assault and disorderly conduct; maximum penalty = 10 years imprisonment + $2,500 fine.
- Threat Messages: Specific content not disclosed; investigation ongoing.
Timeline
- October 13, 2026 – Forum held; assault incident occurs; staffer files complaint.
- October 14, 2026 – Office announces family threats and assault charge; public statements released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You do not have my permission to record. If you record, we will refer you to prosecutors,” — S. Rep. Andy Harris
- “Audio and video have to have two-party approval in Maryland,” — S. Rep. Andy Harris
- “A congressman speaking to journalists in a press conference has no reasonable expectation that his remarks are private,” — Joyce Smithey
What’s Next
Law-enforcement agencies are reviewing the threatening messages, and the district court hearing for Simon is scheduled for later this month. Harris has indicated he will continue holding face-to-face meetings across Maryland’s First Congressional District.