GFU Student Arrested On Federal Charges For Alleged Involvement In U.S. Capitol Riot
By: Aurora Biggers
NEWBERG, Ore.—Matthew Klein, 24, a George Fox University (GFU) student at the time, was arrested by the FBI on Mar. 23, as was his brother, Jonathanpeter Klein, 21, on Mar. 24, under accusations of breaching the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Left: Matthew Klein Right: Jonathanpeter Klein Photo courtesy: Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office
According to federal authorities, the brothers were each caught on video storming the Capitol, and the indictment includes evidence of plane tickets purchased to Philadelphia and D.C, a time-off from work request from Jonathanpeter stating intent to attend “Stop the Steal Rally in D.C.,” and GPS location from mobile devices associated with the brothers placing them inside the Capitol at the time of the riot.
The charges Matthew Klein and Jonathanpeter Klein face include conspiracy, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of an official proceeding, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, destruction of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds, according to a Mar. 21 indictment.
Both Klein brothers have attended Proud Boys rallies, and Jonathanpeter has described himself as a “Proud Boy.” Both Kleins also attended the Proud Boys rally in Portland’s Delta Park on Sept. 26, and their younger brother, Philip Edward Klein, 19, also a former GFU student, is facing misdemeanor charges for carrying a loaded weapon at the same rally. At the rally, Matthew Klein was cited with two misdemeanor allegations of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm in public and one count of unlawful possession of firearms.
In one memo, according to The Oregonian, a federal prosecutor described the two brothers as “dangerous powder kegs,” and recommended their detention. Both brothers were arrested in Oregon but will face prosecution in Washington, D.C. Both were determined flight risks and dangers to the community by Oregon’s U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta.
David Medina, 31, a GFU alumni, has been identified by OPB as another Oregonian who participated in the insurrection. Medina has not been arrested, but video and photos from ITV news on the day of the U.S. Capitol breach appear to show Medina inside the capitol saying, “We were good people. The government did this to us. We were normal, good, law-abiding citizens, and you guys did this to us. We want our country back.”
According to one student, who contacted The Crescent but will remain anonymous, GFU has remained silent on the issue due to concern over how the news would impact students of color.
Rob Felton, GFU’s director of executive communication, told The Crescent that Matthew Klein and Philip Klein are no longer students at GFU and have been banned from campus.
When asked if GFU was aware prior to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot of the citations and charges against the Klein brothers for carrying weapons at the Proud Boy rally in Portland on Sept. 26, Felton said, “Klein was a 24-year-old commuter student from Sherwood and university staff were not aware of his presence at the Capitol, legal charges against him or alleged participation in previous rallies associated with the Proud Boys, a group whose attitudes and commitments are antithetical to the values of our community.”
However, according to Felton, President Baker has no plans to make a public statement regarding the Klein brothers’ actions. “In early January, George Fox President Robin Baker sent an all-campus email that publiclydenounced the riot at the nation’s Capitol,” Felton said. In Baker’s statement, he said, “As a university community, we strongly condemn the violence that occurred in the Capitol Building …. As followers of Jesus, we condemn the suppression of underrepresented voices, white supremacy and the violent disruption of the peaceful transfer of power.”