A Chicago man faces federal charges following his alleged involvement in assaulting law enforcement officers during a July protest in Washington D.C. Zachary Kam, 24, was arrested and charged with two counts related to assaulting federal officers amid the demonstration. The arrest took place in connection with the events at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station on July 24, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The charges came to light through announcements from U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the FBI Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division, and Chief Jessica M. E. Taylor of the National Park Service’s United States Park Police (USPP). Kam, who made his initial appearance in court on the afternoon of his arrest, could face serious repercussions if convicted. According to U.S. Attorney Graves, "Assaulting a federal officer during the course of a protest is not constitutionally protected speech, it is a federal crime."
The Department of Justice's official statement lays out the timeline of events, explaining that the protest in question took a violent turn, with participants pulling down flags, burning items, and vandalizing property. Law enforcement was obstructed in their efforts to manage the situation and make arrests. Kam allegedly assaulted a police officer while another officer was attempting an arrest a different individual.
The second assault involving Kam, where he supposedly grabbed another officer by his vest and pulled him to the ground, was captured on multiple videos circulated online. Following these incidents, Kam reportedly disappeared into the assembling crowd until he was identified and arrested later that evening. As described by law enforcement, at the time of the alleged offenses, Kam was recognizable by his distinctive attire, including a red and blue hat, and a tan camouflage vest.
This case is under investigation by numerous agencies, including the FBI's Washington Field Office and the USPP’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit. The prosecution is in the hands of Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin. While the federal charges are currently only allegations, "A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law," the justice department reminds the public, a statement obtained by the Department of Justice.
