Eight anti-Israel protesters face federal charges after DC prosecutors drop cases

At least eight people arrested during the anti-Israel protest in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday now face federal criminal charges, while some are either still pending or being dropped by local prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors at the U.S. attorney’s office in D.C. have charged eight people so far, including Crow Momamome, Antonio Somerville, and Frederick Coates, with attempting to carry a dangerous weapon. Zachary Allen Kam is being charged with two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer, while Nathaniel Lawrence, Sonia Krishan, and Roger Miller are being charged with attempted theft. Essa Eject is being charged with threats related to the demonstration, officials told the Washington Examiner.

Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies arrested 25 people at the violent protests, but both federal and local prosecutors suggested just eight of them are currently facing charges.

All of the aforementioned defendants have pleaded not guilty to their charges. Meanwhile, numerous other people arrested during the protests will not face charges at this time.

The D.C. attorney general’s office was presented with 11 cases that were not “papered,” meaning the office will not charge them. Of that group, three were initially charged by the D.C. prosecutors for “crossing police line,” five for “disorderly conduct — inciting violence,” and three for “disorderly conduct — causing unreasonable fear.” The attorney general’s office said federal prosecutors charged some in that group instead.

There are also five pending misdemeanor citation cases for “crowding, obstructing, or incommoding,” for which the prosecutors have not yet made a charging decision.

An official with the attorney general’s office told the Washington Examiner their office is tasked with handling more low-level offenses related to the protest, while more serious charges are handled by federal prosecutors. The attorney general’s office typically handles juvenile crime, not adult crime.

Although initial statements from the Metropolitan Police Department cited four arrests for assault on a police officer at the protest, the Washington Examiner was only able to track down identifying information for three individuals, including Kam. Another individual is Kevin Ramirez, who was accused of one misdemeanor count for assault on an officer, though federal prosecutors appear to have declined to bring charges in his case, meaning he may only face charges for low-level offenses, including “Inciting Violence.”

The third suspect who was charged with assaulting an officer was a 15-year-old from Ohio, and an official with the attorney general’s office said the juvenile was not charged by either local or federal prosecutors, telling the Washington Examiner to “infer” that he will not face any charges.

Notably, the eight people who have been charged thus far in the D.C. Superior Court have been given initial appearance dates in court but have only been given orders to “stay away” from Union Station, where hundreds of protesters crowded as some defaced property with graffiti, including messages such as “Hamas is coming” and “Free Palestine,” and where they burned an American flag and an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

It appears federal prosecutors at this time have not brought charges against anyone for destroying or defacing government property out of the 25 total people who were arrested by the metropolitan police, Capitol Police, and U.S. Park Police, according to a Washington Examiner review of the charges.

The small number of arrests and the minimal charges against the protesters have prompted some online critics to decry a “two-tiered” justice system in light of the more than 1,400 protesters who were charged after Jan. 6, 2021, for participating in the riot at the Capitol.

For example, a man who was arrested and charged with punching a police officer on Jan. 6, New Jersey gym owner Kevin Fairlamb, pleaded guilty to a felony assault charge weeks after the protest and was subsequently sentenced to 41 months in prison.

For misdemeanor charges such as the counts against Kam, who is facing two charges of assaulting a law enforcement officer, each simple assault charge carries penalties such as fines and/or imprisonment for up to one year per violation.

It remains to be seen whether more protesters will face federal charges for the demonstration. A spokeswoman for the attorney’s office told the Washington Examiner on Friday afternoon, “There is no further information at this time.”