Oregon Lawmaker Who Let Protesters Into State Capitol Charged With Criminal Misconduct Oregon state Rep. Mike Nearman, a Republican, faces criminal charges for allegedly allowing demonstrators to breach the state Capitol in December. Nearman has been charged with official misconduct and criminal trespass, both misdemeanors, following a probe into his role in a protest that turned violent at the Oregon State Capitol on Dec. 21, according to a court filing (pdf) with the Marion County District Attorney, obtained by OBP. An aide at Nearman’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times. The charges stem from an incident in which groups demanding an end to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in Oregon gained access to the state Capitol as lawmakers were inside deliberating on COVID-19 relief measures.