Oregon Man Found Guilty of Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach (original) (raw)

Press Release

Monday, September 18, 2023

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia

Defendant Pushed Against and Struck Officers, Removed Metal Barriers

WASHINGTON - An Oregon man was found guilty in the District of Columbia today of eight charges, including assaulting law enforcement, during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Reed Knox Christensen, 65, of Hillsboro, Oregon, was found guilty after a jury trial in U.S. District Court. Christensen was convicted of four felonies, including three counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and one count of civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, Christensen was convicted of four misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.

According to the government’s evidence, at around 2:20 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, Christensen initiated the forcible removal of bike rack barriers on the West Plaza of the Capitol grounds. These barriers and U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers were preventing rioters from moving closer to the Capitol building. As Christensen was attempting to remove a bike rack barrier, officers sprayed him with pepper spray. Despite the spray, Christensen charged through the perimeter; however, he briefly paused while he received aid from officers to wash away the spray.

Evidence showed that after receiving aid, Christensen charged several officers, struck them with his fists, and pushed them. At that point, Christensen was at the front of the group of rioters initiating physical attacks on the officers, who went on to lose ground, allowing access to the Capitol building.

Christensen was arrested on April 25, 2021, in Oregon.

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth will sentence Christensen on Dec. 15, 2023.

All charges carry potential financial penalties. The Court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington and Portland Field Offices, which listed Christensen as #191 on their seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 32 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 396 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Updated September 18, 2023

Press Release Number: 23-558