It started off like many other weekends in West Virginia. Some friends were hosting a campaign cookout for the state senate campaign of Major Richard Ojeda in Logan County. But the relaxing Sunday afternoon soon turned violent.
Jonathan Porter, a longtime political operative for the Democratic Party according to locals, turned up to the campaign event uninvited. Porter asked Major Ojeda to place a bumper sticker on the back of his vehicle. Ojeda had known Porter since they were kids, so he thought nothing of the request and complied. Porter asked for a second bumper sticker to be placed on his vehicle’s front grill.
“That’s all I remember,” Ojeda recalled later. “When I woke up, my head was on a tree stump covered in blood. Everyone was looking at me.”
When Ojeda bent down in front of the vehicle Porter turned violent. Witnesses later described a brutal scene in which Porter repeated struck the Iraq veteran with brass knuckles and continued to kick him when he was on the ground.
The assailant then hopped in his truck. One witness jumped in between the truck and an unconscious Ojeda, fearing that Porter intended to run him over. Other neighbors rushed to block the escape, using ATVs to block the gravel driveway. The truck repeated rammed into one of the quads, eventually running it over on his way out.
Major Ojeda suffered several lacerations, eight bone fractures, and a concussion, but he came out of the attack even more emboldened. He released two public statements later in the evening:
Sorry for the pic but make no mistake....I am now even more dedicated to the cause. This doesn't scare me and I don't quit! This was premeditated and there was a reason the guy did this. Regardless....if anyone thinks that this will get me to march in line you obviously don't know me very well.
Brushing my teeth with a sponge! If you thought this would shut me up you are mistaken. I am now even more determined to continue on my path. I haven't spoken to that Jonathan idiot in years which tells me that there was more to this. I do know that he is an embarrassment to his brother and I do not hold any of this against Harold. I would like to give a huge "Thank You" to Kendall Dingess and a few others for keeping the knucklehead from running my unconscious body over with his truck. These guys got in between me and the truck and saved my life. That's real friends! I am still in this race 110% and committed to fulfilling my promises. I hope people realize the garbage that has went on for far too long in our areas. I have been threatened before but I never really knew it would come to this. I have dealt with the Taliban and Al Qaeda......I am not scared of those of you who think you can intimidate me. It's not in my bloodline! Step aside because we are taking our counties back!
Ojeda believes the attack to be politically motivated. "I’m challenging the powers that be… The moment you start asking questions, you become public enemy number one," he said, citing his campaign for transparency and good government. He had taken supporters of his opponent, incumbent Art Kirkendoll, to court several times in recent weeks for voter intimidation and destruction of campaign signs.
Sen. Kirkendoll quickly released a statement condemning the violence:
I was informed that my opponent was physically assaulted and injured at a political function today. I do not now, nor have I ever, condoned violence. It has no place in our political campaigns or in our communities. My and my family's thoughts and prayers are with my opponent and his family and we wish him a speedy recovery.
Porter fled to the mountains for six hours before calling the police later in the evening. He eventually turned himself in without incident. He continues to refuse to cooperate with the investigation, so his motivation remains unclear. He is being charged with felony destruction of property, malicious assault and attempt to commit a felony.