Federal prosecutors use Russian state TV video in case of activist who 'toppled Confederate statue'

The US Department of Justice is using video obtained from a Russian-government funded news agency to prosecute a US citizen for burning a Confederate statue in Washington DC.

A video allegedly showing Jacob Charter knocking over a statue of Albert Pike and lighting it on fire was obtained by investigators from the news agency Ruptly, a subsidiary of RT, which is a Russian state-owned network.

Prosecutors are using the video, along with another video obtained from a local DC broadcast station WUSA9, as evidence against Mr Charter, who has pleaded not guilty.

Mr Charter is a self-described antifascist and celebrated the toppling of both the Albert Pike statue and on the attempted toppling of a statue of President Andrew Jackson.

The Albert Pike statue is the only monument to the Confederacy in Washington DC. It was found by US Parks Police toppled over and charred just after midnight on 20 June.

Two days later, protesters attempted to pull down the statue of President Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park with ropes and chains. They were ultimately unsuccessful and police dispersed the group with peppery spray.

Mr Charter allegedly appears in the WUSA9 video showing the burning of the Confederate statue. Prosecutors claim that a man dressed in black wearing a black facemask and carrying a cane and a backpack is Mr Charter.

Prosecutors claim that during parts of the video the man they allege is Mr Charter shows his face and is seen pouring a flammable liquid onto the statue. In the Ruptly footage, the man prosecutors claim is Mr Charter lights a cigarette off the flames burning from the statue.

Mr Charter has been characterised as a "ring leader" of the groups that toppled the statues. Prosecutors claim the man they allege is Mr Charter is seen directing other protesters towards the statues.

President Donald Trump recently announced his plans to issue an order that would make the destruction of statues or federal monuments punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

In addition to making the destruction of statues a federal crime, the president's order also calls for the establishment of a "National Garden" where statues of famous Americans will be displayed.

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