A government contractor was found not guilty of four offenses related to his entry into the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden concluded that prosecutors failed to establish that Matthew Martin, who worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, committed crimes when he entered the Capitol for roughly 10 minutes.
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According to McFadden, a Trump nominee, Martin had a reasonable assumption that numerous policemen permitted him and others to enter the Capitol via the Rotunda gates on January 6. According to the court, Martin’s actions were “about as minimal and non-serious” as everyone else’s in the Capitol that day, as reported.
Martin went to a rally organized by former president Mr. Trump on January 6 before returning to his hotel, when he learned that the Capitol had been breached, according to court documents. Martin exited the building and entered the Capitol grounds before entering the building. “They started letting people inside the building while I was at the top.” And so I rejoined the guards, who were keeping the doors open. “And I stepped in and saw the rotunda,” Martin said in an interview with an FBI agent.
According to McFadden, video footage shows police waiting at the Rotunda doors, allowing individuals to enter while Martin approached. It seems as if one of the police officers leaned back before Martin placed his hand on the officer’s shoulder, showing him a sign of graditude. Martin’s evidence was assessed by McFadden as “largely credible.”
Martin was also regarded as a “silent observer of the actions of others,” according to McFadden, who claimed there was no indication that he tried to prevent Congress from confirming President Joe Biden’s electoral win.
Martin was acquitted of four misdemeanor charges: accessing and staying in a restricted building, unruly and disruptive behavior in a restricted facility, violent entry and disorderly conduct in the Capitol, and marching, demonstrating, or picketing in the Capitol.
