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Tim Kaine's Son Arrested In St. Paul Protest, Charges Possible

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The son of a United States Senator and a former vice presidential candidate was one of six people arrested in a violent protest Saturday inside the Minnesota State Capitol.

Twenty-four-year-old Linwood "Woody" Kaine, son of Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, was one of a group of protesters who disrupted a rally in support of President Donald Trump. The clash quickly turned violent.

WCCO photojournalists captured images of anti-Trump protesters kicking and using chemical irritants on Trump supporters, two of whom were left bloodied.

As the clashes and violence escalated, state troopers arrested one of the anti-Trump demonstrators inside the Capitol, while others were escorted out of the building.

Linwood Kaine
Linwood Kaine (credit: Ramsey County Jail)

St. Paul police say a group of five anti-Trump protesters, including Kaine, "set off fireworks/smokebombs," then ran outside to a park just outside the Capitol.

Sen. Kaine and his wife issued this statement about the situation: "We love that our three children have their own views and concerns about current political issues. They fully understand the responsibility to express those concerns peacefully."

But police say Linwood Kaine's arrest was anything but peaceful. The police statement says Kaine ran from officers and resisted arrest. It also said it took three officers -- including one who had to use a chemical irritant -- to get Kaine on the ground and arrest him

Kaine is a 2014 graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, and lives in a south Minneapolis.

He spent three days in the Ramsey County Jail before being released Tuesday.

The county attorney's office declined to press felony charges, and the St. Paul City Attorney's office is is still deciding whether or not to file misdemeanor charges against Kaine and the others who were arrested.

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