There has been some outrage today at the conservative blog Gateway Pundit that national media have not reported on the beating of a 25-year old* Republican woman by anarchist protesters in New Orleans Friday night for the crime of wearing a Sarah Palin pin.

The reason no one is picking up the story, however, is because the most provocative parts of it are not true. The woman, Allee Bautsch, was badly beaten Friday night. But she was not wearing a Palin pin, and the circumstances that provoked the violence are unclear.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s office told me emphatically Tuesday afternoon that Bautsch, whose leg was “badly broken” in the beating, was not wearing a Palin pin, and neither was her boyfriend, who suffered a concussion, as well as a fractured nose and jaw.

And while Bautsch and her boyfriend were leaving a Republican fundraiser that was being protested, reportedly by anarchists, the statement from Jindal’s office says they are “not aware of any evidence that the individuals involved in the altercation were protesters.”

“Bautsch, and her boyfriend, were involved in an altercation in the French Quarter with a group of people,” the statement from Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin said.

That leaves open the possibility that they provoked the altercation, that they were innocent bystanders who were accidentally involved, or that they were targeted.

“NOPD is investigating the incident and we are refraining from further comment to allow them to fully investigate and ensure justice is done. Our prayers are with Allee. She is a strong person and we are sure she will make a speedy recovery,” Plotkin said.

After a flurry of false reports on the web earlier Tuesday, Michelle Malkin was the first to report around 3:15 p.m. that the reports of Palin pins being involved were false.

*Jindal’s office told me at first that Bautsch was 26. They said later she will be 26 in June.