Freedom Caucus Chair endorses convicted Capitol rioter’s Congressional run

Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.) endorsed a convicted Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioter in his bid against a sitting GOP member of the lower chamber. 

Good threw his support behind Derrick Evans, a former West Virginia legislator who was charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. 

Evans pleaded guilty to one charge of civil disorder and was sentenced to three months in prison after he livestreamed the riot and later entered the building. 

“It is my privilege to endorse Derrick Evans for Congress in West Virginia’s first congressional district. We cannot change Washington and save the country by electing the status quo,” Good said in a statement. “We need true, courageous conservative warriors like Derrick Evans.” 

The Hill has reached out to Evans’ campaign for comment.

The former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates announced his bid for Congress on the two-year anniversary of the riot and is running against Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-W.Va.). 

If he wins, Evans would be the first convicted Capitol rioter to serve in the House. 

Evans was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 2020. He resigned early in his term. 

“I take full responsibility for my actions, and deeply regret any hurt, pain or embarrassment I may have caused my family, friends, constituents and fellow West Virginians,” he said at the time, according to MetroNews.

Evans has received backing from former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. 

Miller, the leader of the center-right Republican Main Street Caucus, has won her reelection bid by close to 40 points, beating Democrat Lacy Watson in 2022. 

Miller, the incumbent, has a fundraising advantage in the race, bringing in over $580,000, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings. Evans has roughly half with garnering $291,000. 

The election is set for May 14.