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Defendant Allegedly Smashed Wooden “Speaker of the House” Sign
February 17, 2024 – WASHINGTON — An Oregon man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. 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.
David Medina, 34, of Sherwood, Oregon, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with a felony offense of obstruction of an official proceeding.
In addition to the felony, Medina is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including 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.
Medina was arrested on Friday in Portland, Oregon, and made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.
According to allegations in court documents, Medina was present on the Capitol grounds and part of a larger group that unlawfully entered the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. Medina was identified in open-source images and video footage standing in a hallway outside of the entryway to the office of the Speaker of the House and appears to be slamming a wooden sign affixed above the Speaker’s office, which read “Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.” in an attempt to break it.
Medina is then seen standing next to rioters who are holding up pieces of the shattered wooden sign with partial lettering visible, spelling “of the House” on the top line, and “Nancy P” on the lower line. The lettering appears to correspond to the previously affixed sign above the Speaker’s office.
Medina was also identified in open-source images and video footage inside the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, waving an ornate American Flag with golden fringe mounted on a wooden pole with a golden eagle on the top. Court documents say that the flag appears to be a ceremonial indoor flag that was likely taken from inside the U.S. Capitol. Medina then left the Rotunda carrying the flag with him.
Court documents say that Medina also appears to make light of his participation in the riot. On Aug. 23, 2023, a social media user tagged Medina in a post on X (formerly Twitter), which included a picture of him waving the flag inside the Rotunda, stating, “lol this u, David?” To which Medina replied, “Yes it is. #FBIsFavoriteCitizen”
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon provided valuable assistance.
The FBI's Portland and Washington Field Offices are investigating this case. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.
In the 37 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,313 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 469 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.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Attachment: Read Medina Statement of Facts
Source: DOJ Release
