The Oregon state legislature voted 59-1 Thursday to expel Republican Rep. Mike Nearman from the House, after video revealed that he was instructing people how to breach the state’s capitol building, which had been closed to the public due to coronavirus concerns, in December.
“The Oregon House of Representatives has taken the unprecedented step of expelling one of its members,” House Speaker Tina Kotek said in a statement from Oregon House Democrats on Thursday. “Elected leaders must be held to the highest possible standard. The facts are clear that Mr. Nearman unapologetically coordinated and planned a breach of the Oregon State Capitol.”
“His actions were blatant and deliberate, and he has shown no remorse for jeopardizing the safety of every person in the Capitol that day,” Kotek added.
In video released on June 4, Nearman appears to tell people that there is a way to get inside the Capitol building. He first makes a reference to “Operation Hall Pass,” and then said, apparently tongue-in-cheek, “I don’t know anything about it, and if you accuse me of knowing anything about it, I will deny it.”
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