Two charged with dumping powder on the U.S. Constitution’s display case

George Stockburger
·6 min read
5

WASHINGTON D.C. (WHTM) – Two people were charged in a superseding indictment with attempting to damage to U.S. Constitution at the National Archives in Washington D.C.

According to the Department of Justice, Donald Zepeda of Maryland and Jackson Green of Utah allegedly dumped a “fine red powder” over the document’s display case on February 14.

The cost of the clean-up “has already exceeded $50,000” and caused the National Archives Rotunda to be closed for four days, according to the Justice Department.

Zepeda and Green were allegedly attempting to draw attention to climate change during the incident.

  • Pink powder is seen on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (Ellis Brachman/National Archives via AP)
    Pink powder is seen on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (Ellis Brachman/National Archives via AP)
  • National Archives employees clean pink powder on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (Ellis Brachman/National Archives via AP)
    National Archives employees clean pink powder on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (Ellis Brachman/National Archives via AP)
  • National Archives employees clean pink powder on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (William J. Bosanko/National Archives via AP)
    National Archives employees clean pink powder on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (William J. Bosanko/National Archives via AP)
  • Amy Lubick, a supervisory conservator at the National Archives, looks over the stained floors at National Archives in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
  • Amy Lubick, a supervisory conservator at the National Archives, looks over the stained floors at National Archives in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
  • National Archives employees clean pink powder on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (William J. Bosanko/National Archives via AP)
    National Archives employees clean pink powder on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (William J. Bosanko/National Archives via AP)
  • National Archives employees clean pink powder on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (Ellis Brachman/National Archives via AP)
    National Archives employees clean pink powder on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (Ellis Brachman/National Archives via AP)
  • Pink powder is seen on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (William J. Bosanko/National Archives via AP)
    Pink powder is seen on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (William J. Bosanko/National Archives via AP)
  • National Archives employees clean pink powder on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (William J. Bosanko/National Archives via AP)
    National Archives employees clean pink powder on the casement of the U.S. Constitution inside the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (William J. Bosanko/National Archives via AP)
  • Sarah Stauderman, deputy director of preservation programs at National Archives in Washington, takes a video of a portion of a display case that still has red power on it on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution.(AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
  • Stephanie Hornbeck, a preservation program officer, goes over the eraser crumbs used to clean the rotunda at National Archives in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
  • Amy Lubick, a supervisory conservator at the National Archives, runs a cotton swab over a display case that held the U.S. Constitution at National Archives in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
  • Amy Lubick, a supervisory conservator at the National Archives, runs a cotton swab over a display case that held the U.S. Constitution at National Archives in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
  • Museum officials go over sections of a display case that still was covered in red powder at National Archives in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
    Museum officials go over sections of a display case that still was covered in red powder at National Archives in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
  • Preservationists and museum officials look over the rotunda at National Archives in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
    Preservationists and museum officials look over the rotunda at National Archives in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
  • Red powder is seen on a display case at National Archives in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
    Red powder is seen on a display case at National Archives in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated on Feb. 14 after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
  • A crew of workers cleans the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (Ellis Brachman/National Archives via AP)
    A crew of workers cleans the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Feb. 14, 2024. The National Archives building and galleries were evacuated after two protesters dumped powder on the protective casing around the U.S. Constitution. (Ellis Brachman/National Archives via AP)

Both are charged with felony destruction of government property, while Green was previously charged with destruction of National Gallery of Art property for a separate incident on November 14, 2023.

The Justice Department says on Nov. 14 Green allegedly smeared “Honor Them” in red paint on the wall next to the Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial in the National Gallery of Art’s West Wing.

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The patinated plaster piece created in the late 1880s “commemorates one of the first Civil War regiments of African Americans enlisted in the North, which drew recruits from many states and included Frederick Douglass’ own sons.”

Green, a member of the group “Declare Emergency” had previously been ordered to stay away from the District of Columbia and all museums or public monuments. He was ordered to be held in a D.C. jail following the February 14 incident.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, specifically the FBI’s Art Crime Team, with assistance from the National Archives, the National Gallery of Art Police, and the U.S. Park Police.

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