Tweet
Is Portland prosecutor Mike Schmidt leading a biased criminal trial against Joey Gibson? (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, file)
The legal team for Joey Gibson, the leader of Patriot Prayer who was accused of riot crimes in Portland in 2019, released a statement on Thursday announcing that the district attorney has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate his actions in the prosecution of the case. Several questions have arisen to call the whole process into doubt.
In the statement, Gibson’s legal team said:
Special Prosecutor Investigating District Attorney Mike Schmidt for Biased Enforcement
Yamhill County D.A. Brad Berry has been assigned as special prosecutor to oversee an investigation into political and religious bias in the prosecution of Joey Gibson and Russell Schultz for violation of the Oregon anti-riot statute, ORS 166.015 during a political protest held outside the former Antifa hangout known as Cider Riot in Portland.
U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut ruled that Joey Gibson and Russell Schultz can argue their claims of “vindictive and selection prosecution” in state court.