Rep. Wasserman Schultz accused of shoving rival campaign volunteer, a minor

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Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., has been accused of shoving a high school student who was volunteering for the campaign of a Democratic primary challenger, Fox News has confirmed.

Martina Velasquez, 16, told the Miami New Times that she was handing out cards and trying to speak to potential voters on behalf of candidate Jen Perelman outside a Broward County polling location Saturday when the former Democratic National Committee chairwoman allegedly pushed her.

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"She, every time, would come and shove me out of the way into a group of other poll workers, moving my arms so I couldn't give out a palm card," Velasquez told the publication. "She was saying, 'That's my opponent, that's my opponent, you can't vote for her.'"

Perelman shared a video of Velasquez giving her account of what allegedly happened and calling Wasserman Schultz a "monster."

Wasserman Schultz's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

According to a report Velasquez filed with the Pembroke Pines Police Department on Monday, she and her father told an officer that Wasserman Shultz made contact with her four times by "shoving with the side of her arm to prevent [her] from handing out flyers to people." Velasquez's name and information were redacted from the report, which police provided to Fox News.

Velazquez said Monday that she was not interested in criminal charges against the incumbent congresswoman, but said she filed an informational report with the Pembroke Pines Police Department so that there would be a record. The report says that she was given a form to fill out should she change her mind.

"I want her to publicly apologize to me, Jen's campaign team, and Jen," Velasquez told the New Times.

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Perelman, an attorney who touts endorsements from former presidential hopefuls Andrew Yang and Marianne Williamson, stood up for Velasquez in a Sunday tweet.

"If you want to put your hands on anyone, try it with me. Don't you EVER touch my volunteers," she said.

On Sunday, Perelman tweeted about the police report and said she is proud of Velasquez for standing up for herself.

"No one, even a congresswoman, is going to touch or intimidate my kids & get away with it," Perelman said.

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Wasserman Schultz ended up defeating Perelman in Tuesday's primary in a landslide victory of 72% to 28%.

Perelman was one of a number of progressive candidates who mounted primary challenges against long-time Democratic incumbents. Earlier this year, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., lost his primary to progressive challenger Jamaal Bowman after serving 16 terms in office. In 2018, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez similarly defeated veteran Rep. Joe Crowley, who had served 10 terms.