Nerman being interviewed by Bruce Broussard Recorded January 26, 2016
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]
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]
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]
^"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."
^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."
