Derrick Evans, a former West Virginia Republican State legislator, tells CBS News that he is considering running for federal office in 2024.
Evans was the highest-ranking official in government to be charged in a U.S. Capitol Breach criminal case on Jan. 6, 2021. He resigned from his position in the state legislature in January 2021. He said that his post-prison plans included a possible run to Congress, when Senator Joe Manchin (Democrat from West Virginia) could be seeking reelection. His arrest could actually increase political support in a state which overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump during the 2020 election.
Evans stated that he would seek to be able to oversee the U.S. Justice Department which just concluded his prosecution.
In March, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months imprisonment. He stated that he expected to be sent to prison within the next few days and hopes to be close to his West Virginia-Kentucky home.
Evans admitted to wearing a helmet on Jan. 6 and live streaming his movements. He also said that many of his former constituents as well as his community in Prichard (W.Va.) have not had any criticisms of Evans' actions at the Capitol.
Evans stated, "A lot of those people shook hands with me." "They thought it was stupid, but they thanked me for having the guts and the backbone."
Evans was wanted by the Justice Department for a term of imprisonment because he was part a group that pushed back against the police during the riot.
Prosecutors said that Evans was enthusiastic about what was happening, and he cheered every advancement of 'patriots" against the police on all sides. He urged the rioters to take the Capitol. He also told them that the certification for the electoral college vote was halted "because of protestors" and that 'patriots had made it to the Senate floor. Evans hysterically hollered through his livestream, telling his followers: "Guys, oh dear, I can't even describe what's happening right now. This is so amazing to witness in person. I am in awe. The revolution is underway. "The revolution has begun!"
CBS News reported that he did not regret visiting the Capitol Jan. 6, but admitted it was wrong to enter amid mob.
He said, "Absolutely, it's impossible for me to go inside," and that he would not do it again. "I'm going to never regret standing up for what my beliefs and showing up for them, in terms of being myself."
Evans's prosecution and request for leniency in sentencing has not changed Evans' position on President Trump and the 2020 election. Evans called the Jan. 6 House select committee a "witch hunt", claimed he was being "overcharged" and referred the 2020 election to as "stolen."
Federal prosecutors already informed a federal court about Evans' post-sentencencing statements, in which Evans sought to minimize his guilt for the crime to which it was pleaded guilty. A federal prosecutor filed a June 30, court filing. He wrote about Evans's radio appearance after his sentencing. In it, Evans made statements that were "inconsistent with" the contrition Evans expressed in court.
The prosecutor stated that Evans made several self-exonerating statements during the radio interview. These statements are directly contradicted in his livestream video, which he recorded on January 6, 2021. Evans said that he did not intend to go up the Rotunda doors and enter the Capitol building. "I never thought that we would be inside the Capitol. It never crossed my mind."
Evans stated that if Evans were to be elected to Congress, he would want to oversee the U.S. Justice Department.
Evans stated that reform is needed from the top down. I hear this from both sides, but it's not because they don’t care. You don’t know until you’ve gone through it. And literally, our criminal justice system must be reform.
In the months following Evans' arrest and resignation, West Virginia Democrats have been shaming Evans. Mike Pushkin, the Chair of the State Democratic Party, stated to CBS News that Derrick Evans, a disgraced former delegate, illegally entered Washington's Capitol on January 6. He should not be allowed to enter that building again. I hope the Republican primary voters in West Virginia will have a better judgement.
Brad McElhinny, a veteran West Virginia journalist, said that it was difficult to see a candidate with Derrick Evans’ background winning in a competitive, high profile political race due to his resignation from parliament and his felony plea in Jan. 6 riot. However, West Virginia is a state in which Republicans are dominant and where former President Trump remains highly popular. So who knows what could happen in an eventual run for a seat in a wide field? The political precedents could be thrown out the window.
Evans stated that he doesn't regret his decision to resign his seat as a state legislator after his arrest in 2021.
He said, "I'm still fighting for the things I believe in" "Fighting for my constituents, and getting back into the political arena. All options are available to move forward.
D.C. District Judge Royce Lamberth sent a message to Americans when he sentenced Evans. "I cannot just give you probation. Lamberth stated Jan. 6 was "a blight upon our nation".
