Representative Linda Sanchez, who was captured on video flipping the bird in the direction of the Republican dugout during the annual Congressional Baseball Game for charity, appeared to change her story after initially accusing GOP lawmakers of making “offensive and misogynistic” comments.
Sanchez (D-CA) drew a walk during the sixth inning of the game Thursday and was replaced with a pinch runner.
As she jogged off the field, she looked back at the Republican dugout and expressed her feelings with a middle finger gesture.
The Political Insider reported on the incident Friday, but little was known about what, if anything, was said in the GOP dugout to prompt Sanchez’s obscene gesture during a charity event to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of DC.
Democrat Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA) flips off the Republican dug out. Her team got blown out 10-0.pic.twitter.com/CgPOaEsLs4
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) July 29, 2022
Linda Sanchez Flipped Off GOP Dugout During Charity Baseball Game
Consider it a lesson learned for this author.
While first reporting on the incident, I gave Sanchez the benefit of the doubt despite online criticism and even envisioned a scenario where she was engaged in playful banter with the Republican ballplayers.
But, being a Democrat who would never let an incident go to waste when political points can be scored, she released a statement that seemed a little far-fetched from the get-go.
In a statement released to multiple outlets on Friday, Sanchez explained her actions.
“The Congressional Baseball Game is one of my favorite events of the year. It’s a great cause and brings both sides of the aisle together for a night off from partisan politics,” she said.
“That is why it really struck a nerve when I heard an offensive and misogynistic comment from the Republican side on my way back to the dugout.”
Rep. Sanchez said that she flipped off the Republican dugout after she heard an “offensive and misogynistic comment. In the heat of the moment, I reacted. I have no tolerance for men who make women feel like they are unimportant or don’t belong – especially on the field.” pic.twitter.com/vLtsjnca33
— Ron Filipkowski ?? (@RonFilipkowski) July 29, 2022
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Sanchez Changes Her Tune
After seemingly placing the blame squarely on Republican players for having flipped off somebody during a charity baseball game, Representative Linda Sanchez appeared to backtrack.
She knew who the initial statement appeared to be blaming.
Sanchez later told NBC News’ Frank Thorp that the alleged comment causing her to make the obscene gesture came from a fan.
“It wasn’t the team. It was an obnoxious fan who shouts misogynistic shit at me every single year,” she claimed.
Meanwhile, Rep @LindaTSanchez that she was not flipping off the GOP team at the Cong Baseball game last night, telling me, “It wasn’t the team. It was an obnoxious fan who shouts misogynistic shit at me every single year.”
Saying “it’s the same guy” every year. pic.twitter.com/NOTUiGHPnp
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 29, 2022
But even the clarification leaves some skeptics.
Corey Inganamort, whose LinkedIn profile states that he is the Mascot Coordinator for the Washington Nationals, claimed he was in the dugout at the time of the incident.
Inganamort stated that “nothing” controversial was said by “anybody.”
I was in the dugout with the Republicans last night.
She is lying.
Nothing offensive or misogynistic was said by anybody.
In fact, everybody was shocked by what @RepLindaSanchez did. pic.twitter.com/n0n7qdcFJs
— Corey Inganamort (@TheBirdWords) July 29, 2022
Without having been there, it’s nearly impossible to know what comments could have rained down from fans at the field during the charity baseball game.
But Sanchez’s story appears to be a little sketchy as she first blamed “the Republican side” only to later shift blame to a fan.
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If, as the congresswoman claims, there is a fan who “shouts misogynistic shit at me every single year” during a charity event, why has that person not been escorted from the game never to return?
You’d think an obnoxious fan would have been removed for ruining a fun-filled charity event to promote unity and wouldn’t be allowed to keep up their antics.
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