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Defendant Pushed Against and Struck Officers, Removed Metal Barriers
January 13, 2024 - WASHINGTON – An Oregon man was sentenced to prison on Friday after he was previously convicted of eight charges as a result of his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Reed Knox Christensen, 65, of Hillsboro, Oregon, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $22,000 in restitution and fines by U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth.
Christensen was convicted of one felony and seven misdemeanors, including civil disorder, and three misdemeanor counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers following a jury trial in the District of Columbia in September 2023.
According to court documents, at around 2:20 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, Christensen initiated the forcible removal of bike rack barriers on the West Plaza of the Capitol grounds. These barriers and U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers were preventing rioters from moving closer to the Capitol building. As Christensen was attempting to remove a bike rack barrier, officers sprayed him with pepper spray. After this incident, officers provided Christensen aid to wash away the spray.
The government’s evidence at trial showed that after receiving aid from officers, Christensen charged through the perimeter at several officers, struck them with his fists, and pushed them. At that point, Christensen was at the front of the group of rioters initiating physical attacks on the officers, who went on to lose ground, allowing access to the Capitol building.
Christensen was arrested on April 25, 2021, in Oregon.
This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington and Portland Field Offices, which listed Christensen as #191 on their seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 36 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,265 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 440 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Source: DOJ Release
