The vandalized star for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is seen on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, in Los Angeles. Detective Meghan Aguilar said investigators were called to the scene before dawn Wednesday following reports that Trump’s star was destroyed by blows from a hammer. AP
LOS ANGELES — A man arrested on suspicion of smashing Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been released on bail.
James Otis was taken into custody early Thursday and released in the afternoon on $20,000 bail. He is facing a possible charge of felony vandalism.
Otis has publicly acknowledged using a sledgehammer to smash up the star Wednesday, causing an estimated $2,500 in damage to repair it.
Otis told Deadline Hollywood that he was sick of what he called Trump’s aggressive language and sexual violence toward women.
Otis said he originally intended to remove the star. He said he wanted to auction it off to raise funds for the 11 women who contend Trump groped them — allegations that Trump has denied.
Otis has said he will gladly pay for repairs to the star. KS/rga