Capitol rioter from Santa Fe acquitted on all counts [View all]

A federal judge acquitted a defense contractor from Santa Fe on Wednesday of all charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden held the bench trial for Matthew Martin over two days. The government brought three witnesses to testify and Martin himself also testified, according to court records.

NBC News reports that McFadden said there was reasonable doubt about whether Martin knew he was going into a restricted building but also said it was “more likely than not” that Martin knew he wasn’t supposed to.

Martin is the first person to be cleared of all charges related to the violent events at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

“I’m hoping to get my life back together — get my job back,” Martin told reporters after the verdict. He indicated to reporters that he works in Los Alamos.

Read more: https://sourcenm.com/briefs/capitol-rioter-from-santa-fe-acquitted-on-all-counts/

Martin has a top-secret security clearance.