70-year-old charged with assault after slapping Turning Point volunteer at NH polls
Source: Fox News · All Fox News reports
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Summary
The Fox News segment on Hannity features an exclusive interview with 18-year-old Rainer Vesey (aka Raynor) and his brother Asher, Turning Point Action volunteers who were staffing a booth outside a Laconia, New Hampshire polling place on November 3, 2026. They recount a voter approaching after casting his ballot, reading a poem about rich people, engaging in a calm-then-heated debate on economics, taxing the rich, and Elon Musk; the conversation escalated when Rainer said the man "didn't know much," prompting the man to yell, flip him off, and slap him across the face. The brothers describe the man as initially normal and passionate, note the slap hurt only mildly, and say they are pressing charges; Sean Hannity expresses support for accountability and decries rising threats against conservatives. The broadcast shows the viral video clip and reports the 70-year-old's arrest the next day.
Editorial Assessment
The claims in the interview are largely accurate and align with the Laconia Police Department account and video evidence: the physical assault occurred after a policy debate, the suspect was promptly identified and charged, and the victim remained non-violent. Viewers receive a clear firsthand victim perspective but miss meaningful context that the full video and police statements show the argument built gradually, that Redic (a local poet) later apologized calling his actions "inexcusable," and that police acknowledged "two different sides." The framing emphasizes conservative youth activism under threat and "left" violence (echoing Turning Point's own social-media post), potentially skewing perception toward one-sided political intolerance while downplaying that isolated physical altercations occur across the spectrum. Overall a straightforward victim interview with strong sourcing on the arrest, but noticeable partisan emphasis in presentation and selective omission of the assailant's remorse.
Key Moments
70-year-old man slapped 18-year-old Turning Point volunteer in the face after an economics debate outside a New Hampshire polling place
Confirmed by Laconia Police report, video evidence, witness statements, and charges against Stephen Redic for simple assault and disorderly conduct.
Debate began cordially over a poem about rich people, taxes on the wealthy, and Elon Musk; victim said the man 'doesn't know much' after he could not name a tax figure
Matches both the Vesey brothers' detailed interview and contemporaneous police summary of the victim's statement.
The 70-year-old was arrested the day after the incident
Redic turned himself in November 4, 2026; arraignment set for December 10.
We are definitely pressing charges; people need to be held accountable
Direct from Rainer Vesey on air; consistent with victim cooperation reported by police.
We've received many death threats just for advertising a church movie night about young Washington
Presented as personal anecdote with no evidence, sources, or further detail offered in the segment.
Notable Concerns
- Exclusive platforming of one side without seeking or airing the arrested man's full account beyond a brief police quote
- Heavy sympathetic language toward the young conservative volunteer while describing the older man primarily as having "lost his cool"
- Broader claims of widespread death threats and cultural breakdown presented without supporting data in the segment
Sources Consulted
- NH man charged in Election Day assault at Turning Point booth
- N.H. voter, 70, charged with assault on Turning Point volunteer
- Arrest made after reported assault on Turning Point member in NH
- City resident charged after video emerges of assault at Ward 5 poll
- Michael Ruiz: Video shows polling place attack on Turning Point member; poet arrested
- Deranged Boomer Slaps Young Conservative Activist At Polling Place