Man who stormed media area at Donald Trump rally in Johnstown pleads guilty

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (KDKA) – The man who stormed the media space during a rally with former President Donald Trump in Johnstown earlier this year has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.

Stephen Weiss, of Pittsburgh, scaled the rally area and attempted to hang a banner to protest the former president’s policies.

At the hearing, the judge dropped the resisting arrest charge and the disorderly conduct charges were upgraded from a felony to a non-traffic offense.

Weiss will now have to pay a $300 fine.

Weiss storms media area at Johnstown rally

Weiss managed to break through a barrier surrounding the media area and began to climb the back of a riser where television reporters and cameras were stationed, according to video of the incident posted to social media by a CBS News reporter.

The crowd cheered as a group of police officers led Weiss away, prompting Trump to say, “Is there anywhere more fun than a Trump rally?”

“Witnesses, including some members of the press, described a crazed individual shouting expletives at President Trump,” said Danielle Alvarez, a senior campaign adviser. “His aggression was focused on the president and the stage when he entered the press area.”

Shortly after the incident, police handcuffed another man in the crowd and removed him from the arena. It was unclear whether the detention was related to the initial altercation.