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United States of America v. Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi
Date: 04-04-2025
Case Number: 24-MJ-313
Judge: James E. Boasberg
Court: The United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Washington, D.C.
Defendant's Attorney:
Click Here For The Best Washington, D.C. Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Click Here For The Best Washington, D.C. Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Description:
Protestor Sentenced in Damaging U.S. Government Property at Union Station Following a Protest Rally
Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, 26, of Richmond, Virginia, was charged in connection with spray-painting the monument at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024, following a protest rally.
On July 24, 2024, an organization was granted a permit to demonstrate in the area of Columbus Circle, located at Massachusetts Ave. NE, and E St. NE, directly in front of Union Station. From about 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., demonstrators who had gathered in Columbus Circle pulled down flags affixed to the flagpoles; burned flags and objects; sprayed graffiti on multiple statutes and structures; and interfered with law enforcement's ability to place individuals under arrest.
Between approximately 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Mahdawi lowered a United States flag from one of the flagpoles in Columbus Circle. The flag was subsequently stolen by another individual. Between 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., Mahdawi climbed the monument located in the center of Columbus Circle. His actions were captured on video footage filmed by USPP from an observation post looking down at Columbus Circle. The same event was captured in open-source video and photos later posted to various internet platforms. After climbing to a ledge, Mahdawi began to spray paint the monument.
Footage obtained from a review of open-source videos posted to X (formerly Twitter) showed Mahdawi using red spray paint to write "HAMAS IS COMIN†on the Columbus statue. After completing the phrase, Mahdawi spray-painted an inverted red triangle above the slogan.
The flags that were pulled down from the flag poles, and the statues and structures in Columbus Circle, are all property of the federal government. The National Park Service estimated that the cost to clean and repair the site at about $11,282.23.
This case was investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office with invaluable assistance from the USPP's Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit, the FBI Richmond Field Office, and the United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Horan.
Washington, D.C. criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Damaging U.S. Government Property
Protestor Sentenced in Damaging U.S. Government Property at Union Station Following a Protest Rally
Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, 26, of Richmond, Virginia, was charged in connection with spray-painting the monument at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024, following a protest rally.
On July 24, 2024, an organization was granted a permit to demonstrate in the area of Columbus Circle, located at Massachusetts Ave. NE, and E St. NE, directly in front of Union Station. From about 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., demonstrators who had gathered in Columbus Circle pulled down flags affixed to the flagpoles; burned flags and objects; sprayed graffiti on multiple statutes and structures; and interfered with law enforcement's ability to place individuals under arrest.
Between approximately 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Mahdawi lowered a United States flag from one of the flagpoles in Columbus Circle. The flag was subsequently stolen by another individual. Between 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., Mahdawi climbed the monument located in the center of Columbus Circle. His actions were captured on video footage filmed by USPP from an observation post looking down at Columbus Circle. The same event was captured in open-source video and photos later posted to various internet platforms. After climbing to a ledge, Mahdawi began to spray paint the monument.
Footage obtained from a review of open-source videos posted to X (formerly Twitter) showed Mahdawi using red spray paint to write "HAMAS IS COMIN†on the Columbus statue. After completing the phrase, Mahdawi spray-painted an inverted red triangle above the slogan.
The flags that were pulled down from the flag poles, and the statues and structures in Columbus Circle, are all property of the federal government. The National Park Service estimated that the cost to clean and repair the site at about $11,282.23.
This case was investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office with invaluable assistance from the USPP's Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit, the FBI Richmond Field Office, and the United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Horan.
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About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi?
The outcome was:
Which court heard United States of America v. Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the District of Columbia, DC. The presiding judge was James E. Boasberg.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Washington, D.C.. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best Washington, D.C. Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi decided?
This case was decided on April 4, 2025.