Amanda Pampuro

RAND JUNCTION, Colo. (CN) — A Colorado man charged with assault, harassment and bias-motivated crimes for attacking a Grand Junction reporter in the name of “Trump’s America” pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.

On Dec. 18, 2024, police say Patrick Egan, then 39, chased KKCO reporter Ja’Ronn Alex about 40 miles from Delta, Colorado, to Grand Junction, Colorado. At a red light, Egan pulled up alongside Alex, according to the arrest affidavit , and shouted, “Are you even a U.S. citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I’m a Marine and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!”

Alex, who is of Pacific Islander descent and hails from Detroit, returned to the news station, where Egan reportedly blocked his escape, put him in a headlock and strangled him, according

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