Oregon house expels Republican who helped far-right rioters enter capitol

CCTV footage shows Mike Nearman opening a door for agitators on 21 December, when state legislature was in special session

A Republican politician who on Thursday became the first representative ever expelled from the Oregon state house said the people he covertly let into the state capitol in December were mostly blue-haired old ladies".

In fact they were far-right agitators, among them members of Patriot Prayer, a far-right group often involved in street violence, and people toting guns and Confederate flags and wearing militia regalia. Some attacked law enforcement officers with bear spray. Outside, reporters were assaulted and doors broken. Police struggled to force the rioters back.