Feds arrest 'ringleader' in attack on Andrew Jackson statue by White House
By: Jake Gibson (Fox News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Federal law enforcement officials on Thursday arrested a man in Washington they call a "ringleader" in the recent attempt to destroy the Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Square near the White House.
Law enforcement sources tell Fox News that Jason Charter was arrested at his residence Thursday morning, without incident, and charged with destruction of federal property. He was arrested by the FBI and U.S. Park Police as part of a joint task force.
These sources add that Charter has connections to Antifa and was in a leadership role on the night of June 22 when a large group of protesters tried to pull down the statue.
"They were very organized," a federal law enforcement official said. "Charter was on top of the statue and directing people ... they had acid, chisels, straps and a human chain preventing police from getting to the statue."
The FBI's criminal complaint against Charter attaches screengrabs of local news videos and says Charter "is plainly visible in footage from the destruction of both the Pike Statue and the Jackson Statue, carrying the same Swiss Gear logo backpack, bicycle helmet, walking cane, and armband."
"At the Jackson Statue incident, Charter is additionally seen wearing a red set of ski goggles and a yellow ventilator mask," the FBI said in the filing. "Charter's face is clearly visible at different times during each incident."
The complaint also cites a tweet from a Twitter account with the name Jason Charter that says, "Tearing down statues of traitors to the nation is a service to this nation not a crime."
Charter is expected to make an appearance -- likely virtual -- in U.S. District Court in Washington on Thursday, Fox News is told.
Protesters say the Andrew Jackson statue is offensive because he was a slave owner and because of his treatment of Native Americans.
Another man, Graham Lloyd, 37, turned himself in for similar charges in Portland, Maine, and had an initial appearance in federal court there on Wednesday afternoon. Lloyd is also accused of destruction of federal property for his role in the attempt to take down the Jackson statue.
A magistrate judge in Maine has transferred Lloyd's case to federal court in Washington D.C.
These arrests come in the wake of the June 24 executive order signed by President Trump intended to protect monuments and statues.
Trump tweeted, "I just had the privilege of signing a very strong Executive Order protecting American Monuments, Memorials and Statues- and combating recent Criminal Violence. Long prison terms for these lawless acts against our Great Country."
Fox News' Bill Mears contributed to this report.
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Let's prosecute!
I agree.
There is a legal means for the process of removal. Vandalism simply makes the statue look like a "victim". Public discussion is needed so that the need for its removal is recognized.
About 6000 Allied troops died in the Bataan Death March. Its primary architect, Masaharu Homma, was shot after his conviction.
About 10,000 Native Americans died as a result of the Indian Removal Act (a portion of it referred to as the "Trail of Tears". One of it's strongest supporters, Jackson, gets a statue.
You are making a case - there you go! Inform the people and let them vote on it.
Speaking of damaging national monuments, they need to arrest the guy who cut the Grand Staircase-Escalante in half.
Good. This is the kind of thing where I actually think a convicted felon should lose the right to vote. Clearly a person like this isn't interested in making change the legal way, anyhow.