Ted Cruz: Trump Staffers 'Acting Like Union Boss Thugs' to Earn Delegates
During the CNN town hall, Cruz also denied attacking Melania Trump.
— -- Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz said Wednesday night that Donald Trump's campaign staffers and allies are "acting like union boss thugs" for attempting to intimidate potential delegates heading to July's Republican National Convention.
The Texas Senator made the comments during an Anderson Cooper-hosted CNN town hall meeting. Cooper asked Cruz to respond to Trump convention manager Paul Manafort's comments that the Cruz campaign is using “Gestapo tactics" to win delegates.
“It is bizarre," said Cruz. "Donald and his team, it's almost like they are subjects in a clinical course in psychology. The conduct they do, literally, they accuse others of doing."
Cruz cited reports that emerged earlier in the day on Wednesday, claiming that delegates in Colorado and Indiana are being intimidated by Trump supporters. He also brought up the fact that Roger Stone, a Trump ally, is threatening to reveal delegates' hotel room numbers if they decided not to vote for Trump.
"Violence doesn't belong in democracy, and the Trump campaign encourages it over and over again," Cruz said.
Asked about the feud involving their wives, Cruz -- with wife Heidi sitting next to him -- said he had never attacked Melania Trump.
"I have never and would never say anything remotely negative about Donald's family or kids," Cruz said. "On my end there's no truce to be had because we shouldn't be engaging those attacks.
Cruz, however, dodged Cooper's question about commenting on news that Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski won’t be charged for allegedly assaulting Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields.
“Law enforcement there made a determination about whether to proceed," Cruz said. "I'm not going to second guess their judgment. That's the way the system works."
Cruz also said it was "ludicrous" that Trump is arguing the will of the people would be subverted if he loses the nomination in a contested convention.
“It's a ludicrous argument," Cruz said. "There is one way, and there’s only one way that you earn the Republican nomination. That is you earn the votes of a majority of the delegates elected by the people."
