Man who allegedly assaulted officers on Jan. 6 running for Texas House
A man charged with assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is running for a seat in the Texas House.
Mark Middleton, 52, was arrested with his wife, Jalise Middleton, in April for allegedly assaulting two Metropolitan Police Department officers, in addition to other crimes. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., in May and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
He is running as a Republican for the Texas House with hopes of ousting incumbent Rep. David Spiller (R) to represent House District 68, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Federal prosecutors allege that both Middletons pushed against a barricade at the Capitol as officers ordered the rioters to move back. They allegedly struck two of the officers holding the line.
Footage also showed Mark Middleton screaming expletives, according to prosecutors.
The couple is currently out of prison on their own personal recognizance as they await trial.
Middleton's LinkedIn profile says he is a first responder and fire fighter at the Forestburg Volunteer Fire Department. It also says he worked in sales at Nortex Communications, an internet services company, for seven months until April 2021.
Middleton's campaign will focus on border security, Texas sovereignty, protecting gun rights, property taxes, stopping renewable energy subsidies, medical freedom, combating abortion and school choice and parents' rights, according to his website.
On his campaign website he writes "To the extent the Union can be saved we should work to that end. However, it is past time Texans start seriously exploring our exit from the Union."
Spiller won a special election runoff in February of this year to represent District 68 in the Texas House. The Jacksboro lawyer had served as a school board trustee.
His 4-year-old daughter and mother-in-law were killed in a car accident in February before the runoff election results were in, according to The Texas Tribune. His 3-year-old son was also critically injured in the accident.
The Hill reached out to Spiller for comment on Middleton's campaign.
