A pardoned Jan. 6 rioter who was arrested on felony charges for destroying an anti-ICE sculpture at the Minnesota state capitol now claims he was simply exercising his freedom of speech.
Jacob Lang was captured on video, dressed in camouflage, kicking to pieces a giant ice sculpture of the words “PROSECUTE ICE,” taking out the “SECUTE” portion so the remaining sculpture then read “PRO ICE.” The sculpture had been commissioned by the Common Defense Organization for $6,250, plus an additional $600 removal fee.
According to a probable cause statement filed in court, Lang conveyed the following message to the prosecuting attorney: “I was creating art. I was exercising my First Amendment right to artistic expression.”
“Complainant notes that the First Amendment does indeed protect artistic expression — the creation and display of an ice sculpture, for example. The First Amendment does not, however, provide protection against damaging someone else’s property,” said the document. “A trooper contacted the Common Defense Organization organizer and asked what the group’s plan was for the Capitol ice art installation after their permitted event ended on February 5, 2026. The organization intended to donate the ice sculpture to a local business after the permit expired so the artwork could be displayed for a longer duration.”
Lang, one of around 1,500 people who received a blanket pardon for Jan. 6-related offenses from President Donald Trump on his first day back in office, has gotten into a number of other turbulent situations in the past several months.
In November, Lang participated in a march against Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan, where he wrote “CUCK” on the side of a campaign bus for pro-Trump candidate Anthony Hudson after he refused to endorse anti-Islam rhetoric; Lang would also be punched in the face during confrontations at this march. Then, earlier this week, he was ejected from a Minneapolis tavern after harassing the staff, accusing them of being anti-white, and threatening to call ICE on employees.
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