Updates on journalists arrested and charged with rioting during Presidential Inauguration protests
This page also includes information on anyone who is a self-identified journalist.
Aaron Cantu
7/6/18: CHARGES DROPPED
Cantu is a freelance journalist who has written for The Baffler, The Intercept, Al Jazeera America, and The Nation.
Alexander Stokes Contompasis
2/21: CHARGES DROPPED
Goes by the name Alex Stokes. Stokes says he is an independent journalist who films, edits and hosts an Albany Public Access TV news show called News World: Albany Banana Corps. He reports that he was filming at the time of arrest and that police took his camera as evidence.
Evan Engel
1/27: CHARGES DROPPED
Engel is a Senior Producer for Vocativ, a site that says it uses unique technology to explore the “deep web” to find its stories. The U.S. Attorney’s office announced on Jan. 27 that it was dropping charges against Engel, saying, “After consultation with the counsel for Mr. Engel, who is a journalist with Vocativ, as well as a review of evidence presented to us by law enforcement, we have concluded that we will not proceed with the charge against this individual.”
Case DISMISSED. Thanks to @vocativ, the legal team, & all who reached out with support. My thoughts are with all journalists still charged.
— Evan Engel (@evanengel) January 27, 2017
Matthew Hopard
1/30: CHARGES DROPPED
Hopard is an independent photojournalist. He has a profile on Muck Rack where he says he documents activism.
Shay Horse
2/21: CHARGES DROPPED
Horse describes himself on Twitter as an “Independent Photojournalist, . . . Anarchist, Lover of irreverent shenanigans, Former token injun of #OWS [Occupy Wall Street].”
Jack Keller
1/30: CHARGES DROPPED
Keller is an associate producer for a documentary series, “Story of America.”
Alexander Rubinstein
1/30: CHARGES DROPPED
Rubinstein is a journalist for RT America. From his Twitter (@AlexR_DC) profile: NYC/DC based journalist. More gonzo than investigative. Web stuff w/ RT America. Interested in police, prisons and protests.
Here is the flash grenade they used that blinded me and left my ears ringing. Cops encircled crowd when I couldn’t see; arresting everyone pic.twitter.com/bL2ulgv9DR
— Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) January 20, 2017
Alexei Wood
12/21: Acquitted on all charges after a jury trial. Felony charges of inciting a riot had been dismissed by the judge before the case went to the jury.
Wood is a photojournalist and videographer. He live-streamed the protest, right up to his arrest, on his Facebook page.