The man who caused Secret Service agents to rush Donald Trump from the stage at a rally in Nevada on Saturday is a registered Republican who said on Facebook that he voted for Hillary Clinton.
The Guardian's Paul Lewis said that the man who identified himself as Austyn Crites, 33, works on high-altitude balloons. He was interviewed outside the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
Crites was subdued by Secret Service agents, Reno police and Trump supporters after witnesses said that a man tried to rush the stage shortly after 7 p.m. local time.
Crites told the Guardian that he was carrying a "Republicans Against Trump" sign and that he was voting for other GOP candidates on the ballot.
Trump was rushed from the stage by Secret Service agents — though returning about five minutes later to finish his speech. He apparently was not injured.
The Secret Service said that the disruption began after a man in the audience yelled "gun," but no weapon was found.
Crites was subdued, though, telling the Guardian that he was terrified by the crowd's response.
"I was in survival mode," he said. "I knew I could die at that moment."
According to Heavy.com, Crites' Facebook page said that he was voting for Democrat Hillary Clinton, though he has been a registered Republican in Nevada since 2011.
"I have NO connection with the Clinton campaign apart from me supporting her HOPE over Trump's HATE," Crites said in a post about the incident. "I have canvassed for her for about 3 hours, have contributed to her campaign, and voted for her.
"Not sure if you saw the news today," the post began, "but I was beat up at a Trump rally for holding a sign and falsely accused of having a gun.
"I am OK and have been released."
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