A West Virginia lawmaker who recorded, and then deleted, a video of him attacking the Capitol building with hundreds of protesters is facing increasing pressure to resign.
Nearly 32,000 people signed a Change.org petition demanding the resignation of Republican Del. Derrick Evans.
“Remove him from his chair for leading and participating in terrorism and going against the constitution and the rule of law,” says the petition.
Evans broadcast a live video on his Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon of himself outside the Capitol building, while protesters who support President Donald Trump pushed through a police barricade.
“Bring the tear gas, we don’t care”, heard the legislator shouting. “We are recovering this country, whether you like it or not. Today is a test. We are recovering this country.”
At another point, he heard him asking “where are the Proud Boys”, referring to the far-right, all-male group of “Western chauvinists”.
As protesters push officers, Evans says he didn’t touch anything and was just there to watch. Eventually, the group makes its way inside the Capitol. Evans tells people not to vandalize before shouting, “Patriots in, baby”.
Evans has since deleted the video and defended his actions, saying in a Facebook statement that he participated in the protest as “an independent member of the media to film the story”.
“As many of you know, in the past few years, I have traveled across the country to film many different events,” he wrote. “Today, I had the opportunity to film another event in DC, I want to assure everyone that I have not had any negative interactions with the police authorities or participated in any destruction that may have occurred.”
A spokesman for the West Virginia House of Delegates told the Associated Press that House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, a Republican, “will assess all potential consequences once the whole situation is understood.”
“Although freedom of speech and peaceful protests are a central value of American society, breaking into government buildings and participating in a violent, intentional breakdown of one of our nation’s most fundamental political institutions is a crime that must be prosecuted to the fullest extent. of the law, ”Hanshaw said in a statement.
House minority leader Doug Skaff Jr., a Democrat, said Evans’ behavior was unacceptable and asked Hanshaw to suspend Evans’s access to the City Hall and launch an investigation.
A ceremonial event was being held at the Capitol to confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory when the pro-Trump crowd stormed the building. It was stopped abruptly and members of Congress and Vice President Mike Pence had to seek shelter.
Four people died during the chaos, including a woman who was shot dead by the police.
