Evan Neumann
Evan Neumann (born June 22, 1972) is an American software developer and former fugitive who left the US following his alleged activities during the 2021 United States Capitol attack and was granted permanent refugee status in Belarus. Fearing extradition by the Ukrainian authorities, he fled Ukraine for Belarus where he sought and obtained political asylum. Belarus does not have an extradition treaty with the US. On January 20, 2025, the first day of the second presidency of Donald Trump, Neumann was pardoned along with nearly every other participant in the Capitol attack, dropping all charges against him.
Evan Neumann | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 22, 1972 Santa Rosa, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Software Developer |
| Known for | Emigrating to Belarus |
Evan Neumann (born June 22, 1972) is an American software developer and former fugitive who left the US following his alleged activities during the 2021 United States Capitol attack and was granted permanent refugee status in Belarus.
Fearing extradition by the Ukrainian authorities, he fled Ukraine for Belarus where he sought and obtained political asylum. Belarus does not have an extradition treaty with the US.[1]
On January 20, 2025, the first day of the second presidency of Donald Trump, Neumann was pardoned along with nearly every other participant in the Capitol attack, dropping all charges against him.
Early life
[edit]Neumann was born on June 22, 1972, to father Claus Neumann, a Santa Rosa hotelier who owned the Los Robles Lodge and Hotel La Rose.[2][3]
Personal life and career
[edit]Neumann lived in Mill Valley before leaving for a Europe trip.[4] He works as a freelance software developer.[2]
He has been granted two patents from the USPTO since his departure from the United States and resettlement in Belarus.[5][6]
He has a brother named Mark.[7]
Tubbs Fire
[edit]Neumann was arrested in 2018 when crossing police lines to access his mother's fire-damaged home in Fountain Grove, California,[7] following the Tubbs Fire.[2] He pleaded no contest at his subsequent trial[8] where he represented himself.[9] He was sentenced to 40 hours of community service and two years probation.[8]
2021 United States Capitol attack
[edit]The US Justice Department stated that Neumann confronted police at the 2021 United States Capitol attack and asked them: "I'm willing to die, are you?"[4] In 2022, NPR quoted the federal indictment against him: "he broke down barricades and used his fists and the metal object to strike officers. He allegedly assaulted at least four different officers over the course of several hours".[4]
Following the events of the day, Neumann left and traveled to several countries, and eventually to Ukraine to escape alleged political persecution by the FBI.[1]
In August 2021, Neumann was concerned that Ukrainian authorities were tracking him and he crossed into Belarus by foot near Pinsk[10] where he sought asylum, claiming he was facing "political persecution" in the US.[1]
In November 2021, he was interviewed on Belarusian state-owned television channel Belarus 1 and rejected the charges against him.[11][1]
On December 10, 2021, a grand jury indicted him for fourteen offences including assaulting a police officer, and violent entry.[12]
In March 2022, Neumann was granted asylum by the Belarusian government.[13] He is living in Brest.[1]
On January 20, 2025, the first day of the second presidency of Donald Trump, Neumann was pardoned along with nearly every other participant in the Capitol attack, dropping all charges against him.[14]
See also
[edit]- List of cases of the January 6 United States Capitol attack (M-S)
- Criminal proceedings in the January 6 United States Capitol attack
- List of people granted executive clemency in the second Trump presidency
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Evan Neumann: US Capitol riot suspect gets asylum in Belarus". BBC News. 2022-03-23. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ^ a b c "Santa Rosa brothers face jail for returning to family's burned home". Santa Rosa Press Democrat. 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ^ "EVAN NEUMANN". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
- ^ a b c Chappell, Bill (2022-03-23). "A Jan. 6 Capitol riot suspect wanted by the FBI was granted refugee status in Belarus". NPR. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ^ "US Patent Number 11,122,877". Retrieved 2022-08-02.
- ^ "US Patent Number 10,968,579". Retrieved 2022-08-02.
- ^ a b KGO (2018-01-12). "North Bay fire victims face jail time for refusing to abandon mother's home in Fountaingrove". ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ^ a b "Man accused of skirting fire barricade faces probation after plea deal". Santa Rosa Press Democrat. 2018-01-19. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ^ "Brothers charged after entering fire evacuation area to retrieve mother's belongings". KTVU FOX 2. 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ^ Kwai, Isabella; Safronova, Valeriya (2022-03-23). "California Man Accused in Capitol Riot Granted Asylum in Belarus". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ^ "US man charged in Capitol attack gets asylum in Belarus". the Guardian. Associated Press. 2022-03-23. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ^ "UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA". 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Evan Neumann: US Capitol riot suspect gets asylum in Belarus". BBC News. 2022-03-23. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ^ Murphy, Austin (January 21, 2025). "Trump pardons Jan. 6 rioters, including 3 from Sonoma and Napa counties". The Press Democrat. Retrieved April 20, 2025.