DC restaurant: Cruz, wife returned to finish meal after protests

The Washington, D.C., restaurant where Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) and his wife, Heidi Cruz, were confronted by protesters says that the couple returned shortly after leaving the establishment Monday evening, and finished their meal in peace.

The owner of Fiola said in a statement obtained by CNN’s Kate Bennett that the restaurant “welcomes all patrons,” adding that the situation was resolved and Cruz and his wife returned “a few minutes” after the altercation began.

{mosads}”Per our policy for events of this nature, police were called and the guest escorted to privacy,” owner and chef Fabio Trabocchi said.

“When the situation resolved a few minutes later, our guests returned to thank the staff for their support and to finish their exceptional meal,” he added.

According to @fioladc chef/owner Fabio Trabocchi, @tedcruz & Heidi Cruz returned to the restaurant they were forced out of last night. After the protestors left, the Cruzes apparently came back and finished their meal in peace. pic.twitter.com/fM967Ow4Zs

— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) September 26, 2018

Trabocchi went on to say that “politics — like elbows — are best left off the dining table.”

The chef’s statement follows a video posted by Smash Racism DC, which was shared more than 13,000 times, that shows Cruz and his wife being confronted by demonstrators Monday night over Cruz’s support for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who is battling accusations of sexual misconduct.

“Hi, I’d love to talk to you about Brett Kavanaugh tonight. I’m a constituent, love to know what your vote is going to be tonight. I know that you’re very close friends with Mr. Kavanaugh,” a woman asks the senator in the video.

“God bless you, ma’am,” Cruz responds in the video.

Cruz’s Democratic opponent in November’s election, Rep. Beto O’Rourke, defended the senator on Twitter following the incident, calling for Cruz and his wife to be treated with “respect.”

“Not right that Senator Cruz and his wife Heidi were surrounded and forced to leave a restaurant last night because of protesters. The Cruz family should be treated with respect,” O’Rourke tweeted.