The Biden Department of Justice has not slowed down in its pursuit of peaceful January 6 Capitol protesters on trespassing-related charges more than three years after the protests. On Friday, the DOJ announced charges against Portland-based activist David Medina, who is facing a number of misdemeanor and felony charges after walking through an open door.
Charges against Medina include ““destruction of government property, entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.” All of those crimes are misdemeanors.
(Support David’s battle against the DOJ by donating to his GiveSendGo HERE)
Medina is also facing one felony count of “obstruction of an official proceeding,” a highly controversial charge that draws from the Enron corruption case. The obstruction of an official proceeding legal theory forms half of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s indictment against Donald Trump in the January 6 case and has been used to jail hundreds of non-violent Capitol protesters.
The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the statute, leading to a number of appeals for trial delays from January 6 defendants. While prosecutors have been using the charge less frequently, it is still being brought in a number of cases, including Medina’s.
(Support David’s battle against the DOJ by donating to his GiveSendGo HERE)
The indictment also highlights Medina’s participation in another peaceful protest, claiming that he “participated in a ‘storm-the-capital event’ on December 21, 2020, at the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem, Oregon. Medina is shown in CCTV footage of that incident when the crowd confronted police.” Medina has said he will plead not guilty to all charges.
In a video statement, Medina stated that he was cooperative with FBI investigators and agreed to sit for an interview. Upon arriving at the FBI office, he was placed in handcuffs in front of his 16-year-old daughter and perp-walked through the building.
Supporters of Medina set up a GiveSendGo page to help cover his legal defense fees. The page can be reached here.
