A prominent supporter of the MAGA movement involved in an altercation at a London subway station alleges that authorities singled her out due to her association with Donald Trump.
Melissa Rein Lively, 40, reportedly forcefully pulled a woman’s hair last October at Bond Street Underground station after unintentionally bumping into a pushchair carrying a child. She received a conditional caution and the assault charge was dropped, with Lively agreeing to compensate the victim £910.
Allegations surfaced that Lively’s partner, Philipp Ostermann, made derogatory remarks towards two sisters at the station, insinuating they were not welcome due to their ethnicity.
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Lively expressed distress over the incident’s impact on her personal and professional standing. She asserted that British Transport Police unfairly targeted her due to her connection to Trump and her previous candidacy for a press role within his administration.
Lively, a successful entrepreneur in the public relations industry, plans to pursue legal action against the British Transport Police, attributing the charges against her to her public endorsement of Trump’s policies.
During the incident, witnesses observed Ostermann and Lively, appearing possibly intoxicated, near the station. Lively reportedly collided with a pushchair, prompting a confrontation. In a conflicting account, Lively claims the women involved were attempting to steal from her and asserts that unreleased CCTV footage will corroborate her version of events.
Disputing the police report, Lively refutes claims that she and her partner initiated the confrontation. She highlights language discrepancies, emphasizing that Ostermann’s limited English proficiency contradicts the reported comments attributed to him.
Ostermann was released on unconditional bail pending a trial scheduled for November 17 at City of London Magistrates’ Court.
