Oregon state GOP lawmaker charged in connection with protesters gaining entry to state Capitol

A Republican member of the Oregon state House of Representatives has been charged in connection with a December incident when protestors entered the state Capitol after he walked out of the building.

State Rep. Mike Nearman faces charges of first-degree official misconduct and second-degree criminal trespass, a class A and class C misdemeanor respectively, court records indicate.

Prosecutors said that Nearman "did unlawfully and knowingly perform an act which constituted an unauthorized exercise of his official duties, with intent to obtain a benefit or to harm another."

"In an act connected with, or constituting part of a common scheme or plan as alleged in Count 1 above, the defendant ... did unlawfully and knowingly aid or abet another to unlawfully and knowingly enter and remain in and upon the premises of the Oregon State Capitol," the document also said.

Video footage shows protestors gaining entry after the lawmaker exited through a door.