And yes, there's video. (See end of post.)
Video appears to show Rep. Mike Nearman explaining how he’ll open the Oregon Capitol ahead of protests
Days before he allowed right-wing demonstrators into the locked state Capitol, Oregon Rep. Mike Nearman told a gathering of citizens he would let them into the building if they texted him, a new video suggests.
The video posted on YouTube with a stamp saying it was streamed live in Dec. 16, features Nearman, a Polk County Republican, talking about something called “Operation Hall Pass.”
“Which I don’t know anything about, and if you accuse me of knowing anything about it, I will deny it,” Nearman says in the video.
Nearman continues, saying, “There might be some person’s number which might be [his cell phone number], but that is just random numbers... that’s not anybody’s actual cell phone. And if you say, ‘I’m at the West entrance’ during the session and text to that number there, that somebody might exit that door while you’re standing there.”
Nearman did not immediately respond when asked for comment via text message.
But those words exactly describe what Nearman did five days later, when he exited the Capitol via the entrance to a vestibule on the west side of the building, allowing right-wing demonstrators to enter. A standoff with police followed shortly thereafter.
Several seconds later, Nearman says, “so, we’re talking about setting up ‘Operation Hall Pass.’”
Nearman also appears to consult members of the audience about what day would be better for people to show up.
“If people were to show up at the Capitol, hypothetically speaking, would it be better to do it during the week or the weekends?” a man in the audience asks.
It’s at 8:29 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 21 -- apparently just five days after the video date-- that security footage captures Nearman walking out of a door of the Oregon Capitol, into a crowd protesting the COVID-19 restrictions.
Video appears to show GOP Oregon lawmaker telling protesters how to enter closed state Capitol
Yep, Nearman is a victim!! (Too bad he likely didn't know about the video.)
Rep. Mike Nearman, a Republican, appears in a 78-minute video in which he is speaking to an unidentified audience about steps to take to set up "Operation Hall Pass," according to a clip reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting that is posted on YouTube and says it was streamed on December 16, 2020.
He then begins to detail how to possibly get access into the building and whom to call.
He continues, "Make sure to say what entrance you're at, too," and then a woman can be heard asking Nearman to repeat the number again. Nearman then says, "Yeah, I didn't really say a number, but if I were to say a number it might have been something like ... and you'd have to say what entrance you're at, but that's not really going to happen so just don't worry about that, nobody said anything."
Nearman then goes into a variety or scenarios, but says, "so Wednesday at 10 o'clock in the morning, that's when I am working at the Capitol, theoretically, if there's a session going on."
Protesters were not able to enter the main chamber, but there was a physical confrontation with officers during which Oregon State Police said, "a protester sprayed some kind of chemical irritant."
Nearman was charged with first-degree official misconduct and second-degree criminal trespass, according to court records. A charging document obtained by Oregon Public Broadcasting accuses Nearman of "unlawfully and knowingly perform(ing) an act which constituted an unauthorized exercise of his official duties, with intent to obtain a benefit or to harm another."
Early this year, in a statement reported by The Oregonian, Nearman said he was subjected to "mob justice," does not condone violence and said the Capitol building is constitutionally required to remain open to the public.
Every OR Repub lawmaker has "strongly recommended" that Nearman resign. If Nearman refuses to resign, I'm certain he will be expelled from the OR legislature.