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An attorney representing the 33-year-old man who allegedly threw a hard seltzer at U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) during Monday’s World Series championship parade for the Houston Astros said his client had no violent intent, per a report from Houston ABC affiliate KTRK.
According to the station, authorities arrested and charged Joey Arcidiacono in the incident.
Arcidiacono’s legal counsel, Bill Stradley, told KTRK that his client just wanted to hand Cruz a White Claw and thought the junior senator would enjoy it.
“Political violence is never acceptable. What happened at the parade was not political violence nor ‘aggravated assault with a deadly weapon,’” a statement issued by the attorney on behalf of Arcidiacono reads.
Per the statement, Arcidiacono sought to partake in what’s purportedly a common practice at championship parades in which attendees throw cans at participants.
Authorities allege that the incident occurred in the vicinity of Smith Street and McIlhenny Street in Houston’s Midtown neighborhood.
“The beer can struck the senator in the chest/neck area,” the Houston Police Department (HPD) said on Twitter. “The senator did not require medical attention. Nearby HPD officers arrested the male without further incident. He was taken to jail and faces assault charges."
Cruz himself thanked law enforcement on Twitter for quickly stepping in, adding the suspect possessed “a noodle for an arm.”
The New York Post reported that when police apprehended Arcidiacono, he supposedly told officers, “I know, I’m an idiot [and] I’m sorry.”
KTRK reported that Cruz discussed the incident on his “Verdict with Ted Cruz” podcast and poked fun at it by having a White Claw with his co-host Ben Ferguson.