A man who recorded himself entering the Capitol amid broken windows and other debris during the January 6th domestic terrorist attack on Congress was acquitted of all charges because the Trump-appointed judge believed his story that he was invited into the building by police, NBC News reports.
Matthew Martin, a New Mexico defense contractor with a security clearance, was cleared by federal judge Trevor McFadden, a 2017 Trump appointee to the bench and a member of the Federalist Society. McFadden said that the first charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building was a “close call,” but that he could not conclusive determine Martin knew he was entering a restricted area.
McFadden also stated that it was “not unreasonable” for Martin to believe that police had allowed the terrorists into the Capitol because they were outnumbered and prosecutors could not prove Martin crossed into the building after facing officers trying to keep people out.
McFadden also noted that Martin had been less-than-honest in his testimony, saying Martin had “shaded his testimony on some points, minimizing his actions,” but that largely, Martin’s actions were “as minimal and not serious” as he had seen relating to other defendants who participated in the attack.