Karl Rove Nearly Handcuffed by Activist Who Tried to Put Him Under Citizen's Arrest for 'Treason'

Karl Rove slapped away a woman who tried to place him under citizen's arrest during an event in San Francisco, CA. The following is a press release from CODEPINK, who organized the bold act of civil obedience.

When Karl Rove took the stage at the Mortgage Bankers Association annual convention at the Moscone Center in San Francisco today, CODEPINK women in the audience staged a citizen's arrest of the former Bush Administration chief of staff, under California Code 837. This action follows on the heels of yesterday's appearance on stage of Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK, who disrupted the convention to ask for a moratorium on foreclosures.

Janine Boneparth, 58, of Ross, CA, walked on the stage with handcuffs and placed a cuff on Rove's wrist before he yanked it away, while stating, "I have to make a citizens arrest. You are under arrest for treason."

At the same moment, Nancy Mancias, 38, of San Francisco, CA, held a banner in front of the stage that read, "Rove (hearts) torture, treason and fraud!" "Ladies and gentlemen, Karl Rove is not fit to address you today," Mancias said. "Karl Rove was involved in lying to the American people about the Iraq war."