[AnAmericanMother]

Aggravated assault is an assault committed in one of two ways: (1) with a deadly weapon (something likely to cause serious injury - can be feet or fists in certain situations) or (2) with the intent to murder, rape or rob. Simple assault is any other assault.

The difference between assault and battery is that in battery actual physical contact has to be made, but in assault you need only attempt to commit the violent injury and need not actually "connect" - e.g. pointing a pistol at someone or winding up with a baseball bat at someone without ever delivering can be agg assault. Aggravated battery is a harmful touching that causes serious bodily injury.

Local laws are different, and your mileage may vary. Any law enforcement types or lawyers out there feel free to chime in.

[ShandaLear]

The story as I remember it was Franken confronting Alan Colmes at the White HOuse Correspondants dinner. O'Reilly hates Franken and was in quite a lather about.

[johnb838]

Thanks, what you say makes good sense. I was just speculating, I guess, because I really don't hear of people being prosecuted for Assault & Battery these days, at least where I live. And jargon often changes while the public continues to use the old (and often less obfuscating) term.

After tearing in to a back room without his specs, Franken emerged a bit red-faced and with bright yellow tape holding his glasses together after the event.

Does this sound to anyone else like Larouche dude belted him one? Maybe that's why he didn't get arrested.