Federal authorities have announced the arrest of an Oregon man accused of participating in the assault on the U.S. Capitol in January 2021 spurred by Donald Trump’s lies about the then-recent presidential election, where the new defendant is accused of spraying chemical irritants at police at close range. The alleged confrontations unfolded outside the Capitol just before the building itself was breached that day.
The defendant, Andy Steven Oliva-Lopez, is charged with civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers — both of which are felonies. Demonstrating the government’s accusation of assaulting police is at least one remarkably framed and publicly available photograph that shows who prosecutors allege is Oliva-Lopez deploying a chemical irritant — evidently a bear repellent — directly at an officer standing in front of him. The officer somewhat cowers to shield themselves. The substance hit the officer’s protective gear, and body cam footage shows the officer apparently covered in the substance Oliva-Lopez allegedly used.
Oliva-Lopez is among many, many defendants charged over the January 6 violence who were specifically accused of assaulting police, none of which has stopped figures on the Right including Donald Trump himself from lavishing support on January 6 participants as a group. Trump also continues pushing the same lies of systematic fraud in the last presidential race that originally drove the violence. In Trump’s criminal case related to his post-2020 election schemes to stay in power despite losing, prosecutors already made connections to January 6, alleging his arguable involvement in incitement and, later, his support through means like suggesting presidential pardons are indicative of his general mindset.
Trump is also facing arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court for his disqualification under the Constitutional provisions that block individuals from holding office if they previously took an oath of office and then engaged in insurrection. Oral arguments are next month. In a recent filing, those behind the case linked Trump to 19th Century treason allegations.
