Elections

Law Officials Issue Arrest Warrant For Jill Stein Over Vandalism Charges

REUTERS/Dominick Reuter

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Chris White Tech Reporter
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North Dakota law enforcement officials issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein for vandalizing a bulldozer in North Dakota during an oil pipeline protest.

Stein and her running mate Ajamu Baraka received misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass and criminal mischief, which can result in brief jail time, but typically result in fines.

A group of 200 protesters including Stein and Baraka descended on a the construction site of the North Dakota Access Pipeline, a $3.8 million project promising to shuttle oil from North Dakota to the Gulf of Mexico.

The long-shot presidential candidate struck a defiant tone regarding the dust up, writing in a press statement that she hopes authorities “press charges against the real vandalism taking place at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation: the bulldozing of sacred burial sites and the unleashing of vicious attack dogs.”

Protest of the multi-million dollar oil pipeline turned violent Saturday when members of the Native American tribe Standing Rock Sioux and private security forces clashed as construction crews began work on the project in Morton County, N.D.

Morton County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Donnell Preskey told reporters four security guards not affiliated with law enforcement and two guard dogs were injured.

One of the security officers was taken to a hospital, while the two guard dogs were taken to veterinary clinic, Preskey said. She said there weren’t any reports of protesters being injured.

Tribe spokesman Steve Sitting Bear disagreed, telling reporters that security dogs bit six protesters and a young child. At least 30 people were pepper-sprayed during the altercation, he added.

Stein is currently polling at 3 percent in RealClearPolitics’ average of polls. She must generate 15 percent of the vote in certain polls selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates to earn a spot on the debate stage.

Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said Tuesday afternoon his office is “working up the information through the state’s attorney’s office to pursue charges (against Stein).”

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