Army Veteran Who Burned Flag At White House Protest To Have Charges Dropped

The Justice Department has moved to disregard charges against an Army seasoned who group an American emblem alight adjacent nan White House successful 2025.

Jay Carey was arrested connected August 25 aft nan incident, which was an enactment of protestation against an executive bid issued by President Donald Trump.

The 55-year-old, from Arden, North Carolina, said he served successful nan Army from 1989-2012, pinch deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

He ignited nan emblem successful Lafayette Park, an area managed by nan National Park Service.

It came connected nan aforesaid time that Trump signed an executive bid mandating nan Justice Department to analyse and prosecute group for emblem burning.

Carey faced 2 misdemeanour charges, neither of which straight concerned nan enactment of emblem burning itself. Instead, he was accused of igniting a occurrence successful an undesignated area and causing harm to spot aliases parkland resources.

He entered a plea of not blameworthy successful September.

The caller filing did not supply an mentation for nan determination to disregard nan case, and nan U.S. Attorney’s agency has yet to comment.

A spokesperson for nan District of Columbia did not instantly respond connected Saturday to an email seeking comment.

The Supreme Court has ruled that emblem burning is simply a morganatic governmental look which is protected by nan Constitution. Trump’s bid said that burning a emblem tin beryllium prosecuted if it “is apt to incite imminent lawless action” aliases amounts to “fighting words.”

“I group retired to show that nan First Amendment is ineffable and that nary management has nan correct to supersede our law rights,” Carey said successful a connection from nan Partnership for Civil Justice Fund.

"I was targeted for national prosecution because of that. I americium gladsome to guidelines pinch each those who are fighting for our basal authorities and dream that this triumph tin thief nan adjacent personification who takes a stand.”

It shows group that “the Constitution still matters,” Carey said erstwhile reached by telephone connected Saturday.

Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, 1 of Carey’s lawyers and money co-founder, said nan prosecution should not person been brought.

“The government’s effort to criminally punish a protestor based connected expressive behaviour targeted for prosecution by statesmanlike bid posed a sedate threat to First Amendment freedoms,” Verheyden-Hilliard said successful a statement.

“The government’s about-face is simply a captious vindication of those rights. This lawsuit besides lays nan groundwork for defending those crossed nan state who are targeted for vindictive prosecution by nan Trump Administration successful an effort to soundlessness and punish viewpoints it doesn’t like.”