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Who is Derrick Evans? West Virginia delegate proudly livestreams as he joins rioters to storm Capitol building

While Derrick Evans deleted his video, others took screenshots and videos of the original posts

A newly-elected West Virginia legislator streamed, then deleted, video of himself storming the Capitol along with a group of Trump supporters on Wednesday, January 6. While Derrick Evans (R-Wayne) deleted his live-streamed video of participating in the breach of the Capitol building, others took screenshots and videos of the original posts. In a Facebook post, Evans had said he was on a bus traveling home to West Virginia, describing himself as “an independent member of the media to film history.” “I want to assure you all that I did not have any negative interactions with law enforcement nor did I participate in any destruction that may have occurred,” he stated.

In the video, after Evans surges through the Capitol door, he tells a police officer, “God bless you sir. Nothing personal all right. We still respect you all right. Nothing personal against you.” “We’re in! We’re in! Derrick Evans is in the Capitol!” he said after storming into the building. He donned a motorcycle helmet and shouted at those around him: “No destruction of anything. No vandalizing property. No vandalizing. This is artifacts all right. No vandalizing."

Who Is Derrick Evans?

Evans won a two-member district in the recent general election, with 8,227 votes. He is a first-time officeholder, swearing to uphold the Constitution last month. All delegates state this oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, and faithfully discharge the duties of a delegate according to the best of my ability.”

Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Roger Hanshaw, condemned the attack on the Capitol Building. “What occurred today is unpatriotic, un-American and I condemn it in the strongest terms possible," he said in a statement. "Like most Americans, I am shocked, saddened, angered and disturbed by the images coming out of our nation’s Capitol today. The peaceful transfer of power is a bedrock principle of our republic, and is what has held the United States up as that shining city on a hill for nearly 250 years."

He added: “I have not spoken to Delegate Evans about today’s events, I don’t know the specifics of his involvement, I have only seen what has been posted on social media so far, and I’m sure more details may come out soon. He will need to answer to his constituents and colleagues regarding his involvement in what has occurred today.”

Hanshaw said that Evans might be subjected to criminal prosecution. “While free speech and peaceful protests are a core value of American society, storming government buildings and participating in a violent intentional disruption of one of our nation’s most fundamental political institutions is a crime that should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he said. 

House Minority Leader Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha, praised Hanshaw’s statement, adding that the actions at the Capitol were “violent, intentional disruption of our nation’s government.” “This is unacceptable behavior and conduct unbecoming of an elected official,” Skaff said. “I am calling on Speaker Hanshaw to suspend Delegate Derrick Evans’ rights, privileges and access to West Virginia State Capitol Building, immediately and indefinitely, to allow for investigation into this incident."