A 37-year-old Palestinian-American artist is facing a criminal mischief charge after allegedly covering Democratic U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman's Cincinnati office with posters and baby dolls soaked in red paint, then filming the whole thing and posting it to Instagram. Jason Alghussein was detained by Hamilton County sheriff's deputies on Oct. 20 in connection with the incident at Landsman's office in the Walnut Hills neighborhood.
The charge, a third-degree misdemeanor, was reported Monday by the Lexington Herald Leader. Alghussein told the Cincinnati Enquirer, which the Herald Leader cited, that he made the art installation as a protest, describing it as a stand against a congressman whose choices he considers deeply immoral. He also criticized Landsman specifically over donations the congressman has received from AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group.
A Congressman Under Repeated Protest
This is not the first time Landsman's office has drawn the attention of demonstrators angry over his position on Israel. Back in November 2023, anti-Israel protesters vandalized a building near Landsman's Cincinnati office, according to WLWT. That earlier incident involved a poster bearing Landsman's photo and the phrase “This Ken supports genocide,” though the station reported the sign was actually placed on a nonprofit serving women escaping domestic violence and addiction rather than directly on Landsman's own building.
Smaller, peaceful demonstrations have also become a recurring presence outside Landsman's office. On June 14, a small group of pro-Palestine protesters, mostly members of Cincinnati Socialists, gathered outside the Walnut Hills office to criticize his support for Israel and his voting record since Oct. 7, as Cincinnati CityBeat reported. The outlet noted that protests like that one had become increasingly common in the area, with demonstrators handing out pamphlets, pins and stickers along McMillan Street.
Protesters Once Camped Outside Landsman's Home
The tension has at times followed Landsman beyond his office. The Hill reported that anti-Israel demonstrators set up an encampment outside his Cincinnati home, with protesters identified as members of Midwest Direct Action 4 Pali saying the camp was meant to send a message about what they called his complicity in genocide. Landsman said masked demonstrators assembled outside his home early one Sunday morning and remained through the evening, forcing police to escort his family in and out of the house for safety.
Landsman has drawn a clear line between that kind of activism and the recent vandalism. “Peaceful protests can be powerful, but vandalism and dangerous rhetoric are wrong, and ineffective,” he said, per WLWT. Separately, he has pushed back on suggestions that the Israel-Hamas war has fractured Democratic support, saying he is not concerned about party unity on the issue and that Democrats have never been this united.
Pro-Israel Donations
Alghussein's criticism centers on money. The Herald Leader, attributing the figure to FEC filings, reported that Landsman received $661,034 in individual contributions from donors giving via AIPAC this election cycle.
Mondoweiss has also reported that Alghussein, described there as a Cincinnati mural artist and digital designer with deep Palestinian roots, previously served as campaign manager and social media manager for Damon Lynch IV, who had mounted an insurgent bid against Landsman. Separately, Cincinnati Magazine has profiled Alghussein as a Cincinnati-based Palestinian-American artist in connection with mural work supporting families in Gaza.
Background on the District and the Race
Landsman, a former Cincinnati city council member, was elected to the U.S. House in 2022 and represents Ohio's 1st District, which includes Clinton County, Warren County and parts of Hamilton County. He is running for reelection against Republican Eric Conroy. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2909.07, criminal mischief under the provisions cited is classified as a misdemeanor of the third degree, unless otherwise specified by statute.
