Who is Linnea Pugmire? Utah mayor David Young assaulted by daughter of journalist who investigated his business affairs
OREM, UTAH: Linnea Pugmire, the daughter of Genelle Pugmire, a journalist working for the Daily Herald newspaper in Utah, has gained notoriety following a physical confrontation with Orem Mayor David Young outside a council meeting.
This event unfolded in the wake of Mayor Young's condemnation of Daily Herald's investigative coverage regarding his involvement in a failed property company. He specifically targeted the newspaper's reporter, Genelle, and her articles, which he characterized as "extremely off the rails articles" in the local newspaper.
What led to the altercation involving Linnea Pugmire and Mayor David Young?
Moments after Mayor Young's remarks, Linnea, aged 31, approached him in the council car park, asking, "Do you know who I am?" before launching a physical attack. She reportedly spat on the mayor and hit another individual.
Mayor Young recounted the incident stating, "She charges towards me, she spits on me, she spits and hits the girl next to me," reported Fox13. He also mentioned pushing her away in self-defense. Linnea's altercation led to her being arrested and charged with various offenses, including threatening elected officials, assault, and disorderly conduct.
Michelle Lee, who was with the mayor and recorded the confrontation, expressed her fear during the incident, given Linnea's "erratic" behavior. She mentioned Linnea swinging keys on a lanyard, adding, "She could have done anything."
What were the origins of the controversy?
The controversy arose from the Daily Herald's investigation into a $1 million judgment against Mayor Young and his son, Shawn, in an Alabama court last year. Circuit Court Judge Pat Ballard had criticized the pair, describing them as "extremely lacking in credibility" and "frequently very evasive in their answers to even the simplest of questions."
The judge also noted that Young should have disclosed his son's gambling issues and raised concerns about him transferring $21 million to a trust in his wife's name to potentially avoid paying debts.
Mayor Young, in response, claimed that the case was under appeal and that he had no involvement in his son's business matters. "This non-news event was pushed to front page status on their highest readership weekend paper," he told the council meeting.
"I wouldn’t make a big deal about this except it just keeps happening and happening and this keeps coming out of this paper and we just have to keep going along, and it’s just not right. It’s just mind-blowing what’s going on."
As police arrived and handcuffed Linnea, she shouted that the mayor is a "liar and cheat and deserves everything that is coming to him."