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W.Va. State Lawmaker Charged With Entering A Restricted Area In Storming Of U.S. Capitol

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WAYNE COUNTY, W.Va. (WVPB) — A West Virginia lawmaker who filmed himself taking part in the storming of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday has been charged by federal officials.

West Virginia House of Delegates member Derrick Evans, left, is given the oath of office Dec. 14, 2020, in the House chamber at the state Capitol in Charleston, W.Va. Evans recorded video of himself and fellow supporters of President Donald Trump storming the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 prompting calls for his resignation and thousands of signatures on an online petition advocating his removal.
West Virginia House of Delegates member Derrick Evans, left, is given the oath of office Dec. 14, 2020, in the House chamber at the state Capitol in Charleston, W.Va. Evans recorded video of himself and fellow supporters of President Donald Trump storming the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. [Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislature via AP]
Del. Derrick Evans, R-Wayne — who was just elected to a first term in the West Virginia House of Delegates — has been charged with entering a restricted area.

“I just received word that we have an assigned complaint also against a delegate, who serves in the West Virginia legislature. He has been charged. And I think, according to reports had recorded himself storming the Capitol,” said Ken Kohn of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia on a conference call Friday. “He is charged with on entering the restricted area and entering the United States Capitol. That complaint is will also be released today as well. And that defendant’s name is Derrick Evans.”

Evans filmed himself on the capitol grounds and then just outside of an entryway. The video also shows him joining hundreds of other Pro-Trump extremists entering the building.

The Facebook page where Evans live streamed his role in the insurrection has since been deleted.

An attorney representing Evans released a statement Thursday, arguing the yet-to-be-seated lawmaker did nothing illegal and was at the Capitol as a “independent member of the media to film history.”

While state lawmakers of both political parties have called for Evans’ resignation, his attorney has said he will not do so.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Justice say the complaint against Evans will be released later Friday.

 

This is a developing story and will be updated.