Oregon Capitol protestors shown on video entering building after legislator allegedly opened side do

Source: CNN

By Travis Caldwell, Konstantin Toropin and Steve Almasy, CNN 2 hrs ago

Security footage released Friday shows protesters entering the Oregon Capitol last month after a Republican state legislator allegedly opened a side door and walked out.



© Oregon State Legislature Lawmaker Mike Nearman exits the Capitol as a protester stands outside.

Oregon State Police have opened an investigation into state Rep. Mike Nearman's actions, according to spokesman Timothy Fox.

"I don't condone violence nor participate in it," Nearman said in a statement Tuesday. "I do think that when Article IV, Section 14 of the Oregon Constitution says that the legislative proceedings shall be 'open,' it means open, and as anyone who has spent the last nine months staring at a screen doing virtual meetings will tell you, it's not the same thing as being open."

Oregon Speaker of the House Tina Kotek, a Democrat, said Thursday during a news conference that Nearman opened the door to allow protesters into the building before a special session on coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

Nearman said his family has been the target of "criticism, attacks at my home and threats via email social media and phone" since Kotek spoke. He attributed some of those attacks to the timing of the video's release.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oregon-capitol-protestors-shown-on-video-entering-building-after-legislator-allegedly-opened-side-door/ar-BB1cAgeV?li=BBnb7Kz

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Rep. Mike Nearman