Judge Acquits Jan 6 Defendant After Evidence Indicates He Was Let Into Capitol by Police

Capitol police open doors for the protestors. They stand aside and invite them inside. pic.twitter.com/OnSd3KGzz5

— Christina Bobb (@christina_bobb) January 8, 2021

Newly released video from inside the Capitol on Jan 6 shows police let peaceful pro-Trump protesters into the building without incident. pic.twitter.com/UWulBnpv23

— Chris Menahan 🇺🇸 (@infolibnews) October 18, 2021

A judge has issued the first outright acquittal of a defendant charged in the Capitol riot.

Following a two-day bench trial in U.S. District Court in Washington, New Mexico engineer Matthew Martin was acquitted Wednesday on four misdemeanor charges by U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden. Martin claimed that he thought the police had allowed him into an entrance near the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 6, 2021.

McFadden said that, based on video of the scene, that assertion was at least "plausible" and that prosecutors failed to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

"People were streaming by and the officers made no attempt to stop the people," said the judge, an appointee of President Donald Trump.

[...] "I do think the defendant reasonably believed the officers allowed him into the Capitol," the judge said.

[...] McFadden called Martin's conduct "about as minimal and not serious as I can imagine" among Jan. 6 defendants.

Martin faced charges of entering and remaining in a restricted area set up for a Secret Service protectee, disorderly conduct in such an area, disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds and parading or demonstrating in the Capitol.

Matthew Martin and his lawyer speak outside the courthouse after his acquittal. Martin wants his job back. pic.twitter.com/QwYD7RhOMs

— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) April 6, 2022