Town's GOP Chair Charged with Assault at Polls

A New Hampshire Republican town chairman is charged with assaulting an assistant attorney general who was monitoring the polls in Newmarket.

Foster's Daily Democrat quotes senior assistant attorney general Anne Edwards as saying her colleague was at the polling place Tuesday afternoon investigating a complaint involving Joe Barton, who is chairman of the Newmarket Repubican Committee.

Police charged Barton with assaulting a police officer and disturbing the peace.

Edwards said the complaint involved Barton challenging voters on whether they are properly registered.

The newspaper reports that bystanders say the Barton and the official tumbled down a flight of stairs during the altercation.

It quotes Barton as saying Tuesday night that he was getting medical attention for his injuries after being "beat up" by the investigator.