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Michael J. Nearman[2] (born 1963 or 1964) is an American politician who served as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 23rd district from 2015 until 2021, when he was expelled from the house for his role in the December 2020 Oregon State Capitol breach.

Early life and career

Born and raised in Oregon, Nearman graduated from Jesuit High School in Beaverton. Nearman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Marquette University before returning to Oregon to work for his family's furniture business. Years later, Nearman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Western Oregon University.[3]

Prior to entering politics, Nearman worked as a dishwasher, gravedigger, taxicab driver, and technical support representative. From 2010 to 2015, Nearman worked as a software engineer for UTC Climate, Controls & Security.[4]

Oregon House of Representatives

Nearman was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2014 after defeating incumbent Representative Jim Thompson in the Republican primary election. The Oregonian reported that Nearman was buoyed by conservative opposition to Thompson's more progressive stances on social issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion rights.[5]

Nearman was one of two petitioners who filed ballot measure IP 5, which would have required all Oregonians to re-register in order to vote, and to show a state official a birth certificate, passport, or other documentation in order to register.[6]

On December 11, 2020, Nearman and 11 other state Republican officials signed a letter requesting Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum join Texas and other states contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election in Texas v. Pennsylvania. Rosenblum announced she had filed on behalf of the defense, and against Texas, the day prior.[7]

2020 Oregon Capitol breach

Main article: Oregon State Capitol breach

During a special session on December 21, 2020, Nearman let armed protesters into the Oregon State Capitol to protest against health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon.[8][9] Joey Gibson, political activist and founder of Patriot Prayer, posted a video on Parler indicating a state representative let the group into the capitol,[10] and in January 2021 security video was released of Nearman allowing similar right-wing protesters to enter the Oregon State Capitol Building through a door.[11]

Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek fined Nearman $2,000 and stripped him of his committee assignments and appointments. Kotek also asked him to resign. Kotek and others filed a formal complaint about Nearman's actions creating a hostile workplace. Nearman also gave up his Capitol building badge; he agreed not to let unauthorized people into the building and was required to give 24 hours notice before entering the building. Oregon State Police opened a criminal investigation against him.[12][13][14]

On April 30, 2021, prosecutors charged Nearman with official misconduct in the first degree (Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum 364 days in prison and a US$6,250 fine) and criminal trespass in the second degree (Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $1,250 fine).[15] Nearman did not appear in court on May 11 when he was arraigned on the charges, and his attorney did not file a plea. Nearman must appear in court in person or remotely for a June 29 hearing.[16]

In June 2021, video was discovered of a meeting at the office of the Freedom Foundation on December 16, 2020, during which Nearman detailed his plan to allow protestors entry to the capitol, which he dubbed "Operation Hall Pass". He gave out a cell phone number, which was his, and said if they text to that "random number" that they are at the West entrance, somebody may open the door on their way out.[17]

On July 27, 2021, Nearman pleaded guilty to one count of official misconduct in the first degree as part of a plea agreement. In exchange for his guilty plea, Nearman received 18 months of probation, and must complete 80 hours of community service during his probation. Furthermore, he will have to pay $2,700 in fines for damages done to the Capitol during the riot, and is also banned from the Capitol building and its grounds.[18]

Expulsion

On June 10, 2021, the Oregon House of Representatives voted 59–1 to expel Nearman on the grounds of "disorderly behavior"; the sole vote against was cast by Nearman himself. He is the first member to be expelled in the state's history.[19]

Electoral history

2014 Oregon State Representative, 23rd district [20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Nearman 14,474 52.8
Democratic Wanda Davis 9,891 36.1
Pacific Green Alex Polikoff 1,271 4.6
Write-in 1,116 4.1
Libertarian Mark Karnowski 679 2.5
Total votes 27,431 100%
2016 Oregon State Representative, 23rd district [21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Nearman 17,563 52.8
Independent Jim Thompson 12,370 37.2
Pacific Green Alex Polikoff 1,906 5.7
Libertarian Garrett Leeds 1,395 4.2
Write-in 53 0.2
Total votes 33,287 100%
2018 Oregon State Representative, 23rd district [22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Nearman 17,971 54.4
Democratic Danny Jaffer 14,317 43.3
Libertarian Mark Karnowski 738 2.2
Write-in 37 0.1
Total votes 33,063 100%
2020 Oregon State Representative, 23rd district [23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Nearman 23,884 58.3
Democratic Sean K Scorvo 14,292 34.9
Pacific Green Alex Polikoff 1,770 4.3
Libertarian Scott D Clawson 963 2.4
Write-in 37 0.1
Total votes 40,946 100%

References

  1. ^ Day, James (May 3, 2016). "Nearman-Jones primary just the beginning in House District 23". Corvallis Gazette-Times. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  2. ^ "Oregon State Representative facing charges of official misconduct". KPTV. April 30, 2021. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "Representative Mike Nearman Biography". OregonLegislature.gov. Oregon State Legislature. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  4. ^ "Mike Nearman". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  5. ^ Zheng, Yuxing (May 20, 2014). "Jim Thompson loses House seat in GOP face-off against Mike Nearman (election results)". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  6. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (February 15, 2017). "A New Ballot Initiative Would Require Oregon Voters to Prove Their Citizenship Before Voting". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  7. ^ Riski, Tess (December 13, 2020). "A Dozen Oregon Republican Lawmakers Urged the Attorney General to Support Texas Lawsuit Undermining U.S. Election Results". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  8. ^ Peterson, Danny; Balick, Lisa (January 7, 2021). "Kotek: GOP's Nearman let right-wing protesters into Capitol". KOIN. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  9. ^ Borrud, Hillary (January 7, 2021). "Oregon Rep. Mike Nearman let right-wing protesters into the Oregon Capitol last month". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  10. ^ "Nearman stripped of duties after opening capitol door; resignation sought". News-Register. McMinnville, Oregon. January 8, 2021. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021. Joey Gibson, founder of Patriot Prayer, one of the groups that organized the demonstrations at Capitol protesting COVID-19 restrictions, posted a video on social media group Parler saying a state representative let the protesters in. "In Salem, the Oregon state capitol, a few weeks ago, we did attempt entry, but we had the legal, constitutional right to be in there during that meeting," Gibson posted recently. "And we had a state rep, let me remind you, a state rep open that door for us, ok, because we had a legal right to be in there."
  11. ^ Borrud, Hillary (January 8, 2021). "Video clearly shows Rep. Mike Nearman helping right-wing demonstrators breach Oregon Capitol". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  12. ^ VanderHart, Dirk (January 11, 2021). "Rep. Mike Nearman stripped of responsibilities, faces fine for allowing Capitol breach". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  13. ^ Ramakrishnan, Jayati (January 11, 2021). "Mike Nearman, Oregon state representative, told to resign by House speaker after letting rioters into Capitol". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  14. ^ Wallace-Wells, Benjamin (January 18, 2021). "The Long Prologue to the Capitol Hill Riot". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021. Instead, it ended when a Republican state representative named Mike Nearman opened a door and let the crowd inside. "Leaders encourage them. A state representative let them in, and there were few consequences," Olmos said. "And then they do it again two weeks later, when a guy with a bigger platform says, 'Come.' " He meant President Trump. "When local governments don't punish the behavior, when the federal government doesn't punish the behavior, then what can we expect?" Olmos said. "I think we can expect them to keep going."
  15. ^ Selsky, Andrew (May 1, 2021). "Oregon lawmaker charged for breach of Oregon State Capitol". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  16. ^ Alexander, Rachel (May 11, 2021). "Supporters rally as Nearman arraigned on charges stemming from December attack on Oregon Capitol". Salem Reporter. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  17. ^ Hammond, Betsy; Borrud, Hillary (June 4, 2021). "Days before Rep. Mike Nearman helped protesters breach Capitol, he coached constituents just how he'd help them do it". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  18. ^ Radnovich, Connor (July 27, 2021). "Mike Nearman pleads guilty to official misconduct, receives 18 months probation". Salem Statesman Journal. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  19. ^ VanderHart, Dirk (June 10, 2021). "Oregon House expels state Rep. Mike Nearman, plotter of Capitol incursion". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  20. ^ "November 4, 2014, General Election, Official Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  21. ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  22. ^ "November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2023.

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Nearman