A reporter for the conservative outlet The Maine Wire was nearly struck while working outside a treatment center in Bangor, Maine. Video released by the outlet appears to show an SUV leaving the area, accelerating onto the grass, and turning toward reporter Joe Sokol.
The confrontation happened outside the Bangor Comprehensive Treatment Center. Sokol was there asking questions about a methadone clinic that, according to the report, had received $25 million in taxpayer funding through Medicaid. The Maine Wire has raised questions about the operation and described it as a taxpayer-funded drug-dealing operation.
The encounter began with a brief exchange between Sokol and the man behind the wheel. The driver accused the reporter of invading people’s privacy. Sokol responded, “I’m invading people’s privacy? By doing a report?”
The man replied, “Yeah,” according to the report. Sokol later asked the man what he could do for him. Instead of continuing the discussion, the driver pulled away.
The driver then accelerated onto the grass where Sokol was standing and came within inches of hitting him. Sokol fell to the ground as the vehicle passed. The Maine Wire described the footage as showing an attempt to run over its reporter.
The outlet posted video of the exchange and alleged incident on X:
Sokol was able to get back up and read the vehicle’s license plate. The Maine Wire then showed another angle of the encounter. In that footage, the vehicle can be seen traveling along a pathway before making an abrupt turn toward the grass and Sokol. The outlet said the second angle further suggested that what happened was not an accident.
Sokol then confronted the owner of the business. He told her that her patient had just tried to run him over. Rather than calling police, the owner repeatedly demanded that Sokol leave the property, according to the report.
The Maine Wire later released a statement about the incident. The outlet said Sokol had been at the treatment center as part of its reporting on the Medicaid-funded methadone clinic. It also provided an update on Sokol’s condition and said it was cooperating with law enforcement as authorities worked to apprehend the driver.
The video leaves the key question of intent at the center of the case. The Maine Wire argues the vehicle’s movement, especially in the second camera angle, points to a deliberate turn toward Sokol. Law enforcement will have to determine what happened and whether charges are warranted.
Some lunatic just attempted to murder our reporter @iAmJoeSokol.
We have the entire chilling interaction on camera.
We will take all necessary actions to demand justice. pic.twitter.com/Iwlpf3BWIx
— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) October 1, 2026