On Dec. 21, several people tried to storm Oregon’s Capitol building, with many not facing criminal charges. At least three of these people may have participated in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Two of these men were shown on social media and national television in the Capitol Building with the mob that temporarily stopped the certification of the presidential election and left five people dead. The third man was a part of the mob, but has not been shown entering the building.
OPB reviewed videos and photos from both events and found men whose appearance matches that of David Anthony Medina, 31, of Sherwood; Tim Davis, 59, of Springfield, as well as a third man whose appearance has been matched but not yet identified. None of these people have been charged for their involvement in either rally.
Oregon U.S. Attorney Billy Williams tweeted that he would prosecute any Oregon resident who went to Washington D.C. and committed crimes. Three Oregonians have been charged with violating curfew in D.C., but OPB’s analysis was the first to show people from Oregon entering the building in the mob.
The FBI is investigating the attack in D.C. to charge people appropriate crimes, but a spokesperson would not comment on whether they were aware of the men identified by OPB or not.
Who are These People
Medina is the Organizer of Oregonians for Trump, and a former campaign manager for Anna Kasachev, a Republican who tried to run for House District 22 which represents Woodburn.
At Oregon’s capitol, surveillance footage shows Medina pushing his way into the closed capitol building that was opened by Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence. Medina also confronted the state police, trying to push past them into the building.
A man who looks like Medina was broadcast on ITV News outside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, standing next to someone with a sweatshirt that read “Camp Auschwitz.”
Medina has not responded to calls, texts, or emails and has deleted several social media accounts since the attack in the Capitol. He acknowledged he had been inside the building in a video posted online.
Davis is the founder of The American Patriotic Society group and has attending many far-right rallies. Images from Washington, D.C. show Davis on the steps of the U.S. Capitol while protestors were clashing with officers. He has confirmed to OPB that he was there.
“When I got up there, there was no police line,” he said. “I wasn’t aware they had stormed the Capitol.”
Davis said he had not gone inside. A video shows him intervening when a protestor threw punches at an officer.
Davis said that gas bombs were thrown shortly after that, and when he finally cleared his eyes, he did not know if people had gone inside. The events “shocked” him, Davis said. He went there to support the president.
“When the president calls you, you feel it’s your constitutional duty to go,” Davis said.
Davis had tried on Dec. 21 to break into the Oregon State Capitol and speak to lawmakers. He was removed before he could do so, but not arrested.
The third, unidentified man had a blue camouflage hat that said “Make America Great Again’’ at both events. This man has tattoos on his right forearm. On Dec. 21, he pushed and threatened a photojournalist with the Statesman Journal and has not faced charges. Oregon State Police confirmed they are still investigating this event.
This man was also seen in Washington D.C. in a photo where he is embracing a statue of President Gerald Ford.
The FBI has the photo up on a “seeking more information” poster about the event. “Hundreds” of people could face charges because of the attempted insurrection, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia told NPR.
By: Hannah Ramsey
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