Evans endorsed by retired general in bid to win U.S. House seat

Charles Owens, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, W.Va.
Updated ·2 min read
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Nov. 17—A former West Virginia lawmaker who was convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 riots has been endorsed by a retired general in his bid to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Derrick Evans, a Republican, is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va, for the Republican nomination in the 1st District U.S. House race. He was endorsed this week by retired Lt. General Michael T. Flynn, who called Evans a "patriot" for "peacefully protesting" the 2020 election at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

"I wholeheartedly stand behind Derrick Evans and endorse him for Congress in West Virginia's 1st congressional district," Flynn said in a press release issued by the Evan's campaign.

Flynn, a former national security adviser to President Donald Trump before stepping down from that position, said Evan's advocacy for election integrity and against COVID lockdowns and mandates makes him the best candidate to serve West Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Derrick has risked more than just about every American in his fight for Donald Trump, election integrity, and the America First movement," Flynn said. "I have no doubt his loyalty and determination to wage the battle against communism's strong and evil hold on many of America's institutions will never wane."

"General Flynn knows better than just about anyone other than Donald Trump or myself what it means to be targeted for removal by the Deep State," Evans added in the press release. "So I'm honored to stand and 'Fight like Flynn' in the struggle to save our Republic."

Evans also has been endorsed by Trump ally Mike Lindell and the Veterans for Trump organization.

Evans was elected to the West Virginia House from the Wayne County 19th District in 2020 and resigned on Jan. 9, 2021 after pleaded guilty to a felony charge of impeding, obstructing or interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder and was sentenced to three months in prison.

Evans had been sworn in as a delegate just a few days before the Jan. 6 attack, where he live-streamed his participation in entering the U.S. Capitol building, according to earlier reports.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com. Follow him @BDTOwens