8 face criminal charges in disrupted pro-Trump rally
At least eight people face criminal charges in connection with a melee at a March rally held by supporters of President Trump inside the Minnesota state Capitol. One of the people charged is Linwood Kaine, the 24-year-old son of former Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine.
Ramsey County attorney John Choi and St. Paul City attorney Samuel Clark announced the charges at a press conference in St. Paul Friday. They said the charges required extensive and lengthy investigation, citing the chaos of the encounter between some of about 400 Trump supporters and a small group of masked counter-demonstrators on a stairway near the Capitol rotunda.
"Unfortunately, some of the protesters arrived prepared to cause problems, and they were equipped with face and head coverings and goggles," Choi said. "This unlawful group attempted to enter the rally from the second floor staircase by pushing, shoving and eventually employing smoke bombs, Mace, fireworks, thereby creating a dangerous situation and a very chaotic environment for all of those present at the rally."
Critics charged authorities in St. Paul weren't taking the disruption of their rally seriously because they were speaking in support of Republican President Donald Trump — particularly after Choi initially declined to file felony charges in March.
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Choi and Clark served as senior staff for St. Paul mayor and DFL gubernatorial contender Chris Coleman. Clark also once worked for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, also a Democrat.
Choi said there were "unfair things said," and echoed Clark's comments.
"We're ministers of justice and we don't take those things into consideration," Choi said when asked about the political aspects of the case. "It's not about who you are. It's about what you've done and what the law says," Choi said. Both prosecutors also denied meeting with U.S. Sen. Kaine of Virginia.
Choi said investigators took time to search cell phone videos, social media postings and hear from a variety of witnesses that came forward in the days after the incident at the Capitol.
Misdemeanor fleeing and concealing identity charges were filed against 22-year-old Glen Kimball, 23-year-old Haley Ryan and 26-year-old Jonathan Adams. In addition to fleeing and concealing charges, 26-year-old Isabell Kimball also faces fireworks charges.
Linwood Kaine, the 24-year-old son of Tim Kaine, faces fleeing and concealing identity charges, as well as a gross misdemeanor count of obstructing legal process with force, after fighting with a St. Paul police officer trying to apprehend him.
Anton Bueckert, 26, Starr Antoinette Vann-Jackson, 20, and Francis Sagermerek, 29, all face third-degree riot and illegal use of tear gas charges. The charges are felonies in the cases of Bueckert and Sagermarek
Choi said that investigation into the incident is ongoing, but wouldn't discuss if anyone else remains under investigation or might be subject to charges.