A Gilbert Republican legislative candidate’s husband is facing criminal charges stemming from a scuffle at a local GOP meeting earlier this month.
Nathan Hunsaker, whose wife Lalani Hunsaker is running for the state House of Representatives in Legislative District 14, faces misdemeanor assault, disorderly conduct and trespassing charges in Gilbert Municipal Court.
The charges stem from a recent LD 14 GOP meeting when Rep. Laurin Hendrix, who is running for reelection against Lalani Hunsaker, said he received information tying the Hunsaker’s son to the "Gilbert Goons."
What happened next is unclear.
The Hunsakers, including Nathan and his brother Stephen Hunsaker, confronted Hendrix about the comments.
“People can say whatever they would like to say about me, and my opponents are of course able to attack me if they would like to as a political candidate,” Lalani Hunsaker said. “I know that that is politics, but where I draw the line is I am not going to let anyone lie about my son, and that is a problem in our political system currently.”
Lalani Hunsaker can be seen with her husband at the 24-second mark of this campaign video.
LD 14 GOP Chairman Andrew Adams said he asked both men to leave the meeting because they walked towards the stage where Hendrix and fellow Rep. Travis Grantham were speaking, though Lalani Hunsaker said her husband was not asked to leave the venue and left the meeting on his own to take their daughter outside after she became distraught.
Security camera footage of the incident shows an argument broke out outside between Adams and the Hunsaker men.
Adams alleged Nathan Hunsaker headbutted him during that scuffle. The video shows the two men arguing chest to chest, though it is unclear exactly what contact occurred. At one point, it appears their faces make contact when Hunsaker, who is shorter than Adams, jumps towards the other man.
After the incident, Nathan Hunsaker acknowledged “the situation got out of hand,” but said the incident was “embellished.”
Lalani Hunsaker denied Hendrix was ever in danger and said her husband did not attack Adams.
“My husband acted the way that any father who was protecting his family would have acted,” she said.
Adams called it an “isolated, unfortunate incident.”
“I appreciate the professionalism of the Gilbert Police Department and am satisfied with the outcome of the investigation,” he said in a statement.
Stephen Hunsaker also faces misdemeanor disorderly conduct and trespassing charges. The brothers are due in court next month.
