Gaetz presses charges after woman allegedly throws wine on him at private event

By Amber Jo Cooper

Published May. 3, 2023, 5:23 p.m. ET | Updated May. 3, 2023

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaking with attendees at the 2022 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 19, 2022. (Photo/Gage Skidmore)

SANDESTIN, Fla. (FLV) – Law enforcement confirmed the arrest of 41-year-old Selena J. Chambers for allegedly throwing a glass of wine at Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at a private event in Sandestin on Saturday.

Chambers is being charged with battery on an elected official, and was issued a $1,000 bond. She was released the following day.

“@WCSOFL is confirming reports that our agency responded to an incident at an event in Miramar Beach Saturday involving Representative Matt Gaetz. A 41-year-old Tallahassee woman, Selena Chambers, was arrested after it was found she intentionally threw a glass of wine at Representative Gaetz after shouting obscenities at him,” a statement from the Walton County Sheriff said.

The @WCSOFL is confirming reports that our agency responded to an incident at an event in Miramar Beach Saturday involving Representative Matt Gaetz.

A 41-year-old Tallahassee woman, Selena Chambers, was arrested after it was found she intentionally threw a glass of wine at… pic.twitter.com/ZD9kalzjVM
— Walton Co. Sheriff (@WCSOFL) May 2, 2023

“I will never allow the safety of Northwest Floridians to be compromised. I will be pressing charges against this individual in order to uphold the civility our community deserves. Thank you to the Walton County Sheriff’s office for taking swift action,” Gaetz said in a statement Tuesday.

Gaetz said he was at an event with his wife and as he was was talking with one man, a woman threw a drink on them and was “promptly” arrested.

BREAKING: Tallahassee Woman Arrested and Charged with Assaulting Congressman Matt Gaetz on Saturday Evening, Gaetz Issues Statement in Response

“I will never allow the safety of Northwest Floridians to be compromised. I will be pressing charges against this individual in order… pic.twitter.com/lXccJypznU
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) May 2, 2023

In a video, Gaetz said the woman is a “left wing author” and a donor to the Joe Biden presidential campaign.

Gaetz explained why he decided to press charges.

“It’s quite all right for folks to let their voice heard with an opinion or a comment. Folks can shout and scream all they want. This is America […] But, if we start allowing stuff to be thrown or hurled, if we allow people to be harmed, there is a severe risk of escalation and accident and we don’t want to see anyone in harm’s way…” Gaetz said.

“When they really crossed the rubicon, beyond just words, to throw and stuff, and striking me and striking a gentleman I was speaking with, with a drink, well, then that really has caused harm to our community and it’s something that we want to contain and extinguish and not see going forward,” he said.