January 6th, Mark Middleton and his wife, Jalise, were among the people participating in the protest at the U.S. Capitol
According to an FBI criminal complaint against the Middletons, the couple allegedly committed several criminal offenses.
In April, the couple was arrested and charged with nine federal counts, including assault on a law enforcement officer, interference with a law enforcement officer during civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, an unlawful entry on restricted grounds, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
The couple pleaded not guilty to all charges and were released from Collin County jail on bond while they await their trial.
Now, Mark Middleton has announced that he is running for a Texas House seat.
Middleton, a resident of Cooke County near the Oklahoma border, will be challenging Republican state Rep. David Spiller from Jacksboro for Texas House District 68 in the March 1st primary election.
After the redistricting this year, HD 68 now encompasses a range from Cooke County, about 65 miles north of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, all the way down to Lampasas county, which is about 85 miles northwest of Austin.
Middleton’s campaign website states he holds two business degrees and a Master’s of Theology. His platform supports the succession of Texas from the United States. “It is past time Texans start seriously exploring our exit from the Union.” the website reads. “After all, many Texans have been advocating this for the last 185 years. We must and can preserve the rights and sovereignty of all Texans.”
The criminal complaint filed by the FBI says the Middletons were captured on camera pushing against barricades and the police line during the protest at the Capitol. The complaint states that a man identified as Middleton can be seen on body-worn cameras yelling expletives at officers and struggling against them as police try to drive protestors back.
The video appears to show Middleton grabbing an officer’s wrist and pulling him forward at one point.
The FBI complaint also says the Middletons made multiple posts on Facebook documenting their involvement in the riots.
In a video posted by Mark Middleton, he says that he and his wife were on the front lines of the protest and “helped push down the barriers” before being “pepper-sprayed, clubbed and tear-gassed,” according to an FBI complaint.
In a separate post, Middleton writes, “We had to retreat, but more patriots pushed forward, and they’re taking back our house.”
Both Middletons stated on Facebook posts that they never entered the Capitol Building.
At the time of the protest, Mark Middleton worked as a precinct chair with the Cooke County Republican Party, according to Chris McNamara, chairman of the Cooke County Republican Party.
McNamara told CNN he was “very disappointed” in Middleton’s actions and that the Cooke County Republican Party does not condone the attack on the Capitol. “It’s a sad day in American history,” he said. “It’s not the way we do things.”