SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Facing indictment in the United States, a North Bay man wanted for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 insurrection has been granted asylum in Belarus.
Evan Neumann, 49, who grew up in Santa Rosa before moving to Mill Valley, is facing 14 counts including assaulting officers for his alleged role in the attack on the capitol.
After an FBI wanted poster with Neumann's likeness was released, the U.S. Capitol riot suspect fled the country to Ukraine before ending up in Belarus.
Brian Sobel, a North Bay political observer who knew Neumann's late father, described Neumann as a "ghost."
"[His father] was well known in Santa Rosa. He knew most of the politicians, he worked with a lot of different people in the community, but to be honest his son, to my knowledge, was pretty well unknown," he told KCBS Radio.
Republican political strategist Mike Madrid said that the fact that Neumann was granted asylum in Belarus is a sign that foreign actors had some hand in the events of Jan. 6.
"That is becoming increasingly clear and more and more undeniable," Madrid stated. "Hard evidence does not exist, but it's impossible not to draw that conclusion given the fact that somebody snuck into Belarus from Ukraine and was given protection."
Neumann has since appeared in interviews on Byelorussia state media, which Madrid said he expects will continue.
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