Video destroys MAGA lawmaker's claim she was assaulted by famed pacifist

On Wednesday, MAGA-oriented Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) claimed she was assaulted by the founder of the grassroots women’s peace group CodePink. But according to newly emerged video evidence, her allegations appear to be more than a little exaggerated.

“The head honcho of CodePink here on Capitol Hill decided to try to harass me as I was leaving my hearing with Rubio and smacked my arm,” Luna posted to X. “I have no issues answering questions but the moment you touch me you cross a line.” Later, she claimed again that she was “smacked” and that she “will be filing charges.”

Uproar flared across social media as a result.

“Violence has no place in a democracy,” posted El Salvadorian ambassador Milena Mayorga, calling the incident “unacceptable and cowardly,” and saying, “Differences are settled with truth and open debate, not with attacks or intimidation.”

Another commenter asserted, “These people are psychos.”

And many raised the conspiracy theory that CodePink is funded by the communist Chinese government, a claim that Luna has propagated herself. She alleges that the “attack” was part of an attempt to silence her questions about the “communist organization.”

One problem with her allegation of violence, however: a video obtained by TMZ shows that the “smack” was in fact a light brush against the arm. As the CodePink founder in question, Medea Benjamin, argued with Luna about her position on the embargo against Cuba, Benjamin brushed against the Congresswoman’s arm, prompting the latter to freak out.

“When was the last time you were in Cuba?” Benjamin asked, brushing Luna’s jacket sleeve.

“Wait, you just touched me,” Luna declared.

“I’m sorry,” Benjamin apologized.

“It doesn’t matter,” Luna said. “You just touched me. You’re going to walk away right now or else I’m going to call Capitol Police.”

According to CodePink, Benjamin was then briefly detained by Capitol Police, but was released when they saw the video.

Per its mission statement, CodePink is “a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs.” An economist, nutritionist, and lifelong activist, Benjamin co-founded the group in 2002 in an effort to oppose the Iraq War. She has drawn conservative ire for decades due to her opposition to war and dedication to labor rights, corporate responsibility, and Palestinian rights, and has been targeted by MAGA in particular since heckling then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during his 2016 Republican nomination acceptance speech. Two years before that, she received the prestigious Gandhi Peace Award.

After the incident, Benjamin posted a photo of herself with Representative Maria Salazar (R-FL), in which the latter has her hands on either side of the former’s face.

“Funny how @RepLuna called the police to arrest me (they didn’t once they saw the video) because she said I touched her arm,” Benjamin noted. “10 minutes later @RepMariaSalazar grabbed my face. I’m not complaining because she didn’t do it maliciously, I’m just pointing out the lunacy of @RepLuna.”