TOPSHAM — A Waldoboro man pardoned by President Donald Trump following his conviction for assaulting police officers during the 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol spoke at a Topsham church Saturday in an event organized by local Republican groups.
Matthew Brackley was sentenced in May to 15 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of assaulting, impeding or resisting police during the Jan. 6 riot against the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. He also received two years of probation and was ordered to pay $3,000 in fines and restitution.
A handful of protesters gather at the entrance of the road leading up to Topsham Baptist Church during a speaking event featuring former Maine Senate candidate Matthew Brackley on Saturday. Brackley pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding police for his role in the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald
Brackley was released from a Massachusetts federal prison last week shortly after Trump’s sweeping clemency action, in which the president pardoned, commuted or vowed to dismiss the cases of the more than 1,500 people charged with crimes in connection with Jan. 6.
The Cumberland, York, Lincoln and Sagadahoc County Republican committees hosted Brackley at Topsham Baptist Church at an event billed as “A Maine Patriot Story.”
Organizers at the entrance of the church Saturday afternoon said journalists were not permitted to enter the event and declined to comment.
Brackley was arrested in July 2023, more than two years after the Capitol riot. He ran for a Maine Senate seat as a Republican in 2022, losing to Democrat Eloise Vitelli of Arrowsic. Brackley, who owns Brackley Electric in West Bath, is among 15 Mainers who were charged for ties to the riot — all of whom had their cases pardoned or dismissed by Trump.
According to court records, Brackley admitted that he forced his way past police and remained in the Capitol building for about 40 minutes. At one point, Brackley pushed through two Capitol police officers and asked them where then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s office was.
Raphael Macias, a state representative from Topsham, far left, and his child Peyton Macias, second from left, talk to the handful of protesters gathered at the entrance of the road leading up to Topsham Baptist Church. Macias said Peyton saw a post about the event on Reddit that morning and they decided to come to protest the event. Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald
About five people gathered down the hill from the Topsham church to protest Brackley’s speaking event. Some said they tried to enter the church as protesters but were asked to leave.
They were joined by state Rep. Rafael Macias, D-Topsham. Macias said he decided to attend the protest with his daughter after she saw posts about the event on Reddit.
“This (protest) is near and dear to me, because I served 22 years in the military,” Macias said. “I know what dishonor looks like … if I had done any of those things as a military member, particularly as a person of color, it would be a different verdict for me.”
Brackley told News Center Maine that he expected a pardon once Trump entered office. He said he regrets pushing past officers, but believes the 2020 election was stolen.
Federal and state election officials and Trump’s own attorney general found no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Trump’s false claims were rejected by dozens of judges, including those he appointed.
Periods of light snow will develop across the state this evening.
The snow will start 6-9 PM for most areas.
A look at Stormtracker at 7 PM Sunday. (WGME)
A weak area of low pressure will move through the Gulf of Maine.
As it does so, it may enhance snowfall rates for areas east of Rockland through Downeast Maine.
A look at Stormtracker at 10:30 PM Sunday. (WGME)
It’s a quick hitter with the snow coming to an end 11 PM to 3 AM from west to east.
This will not be a big event, but likely enough to cause some slippery travel on Monday morning.
A look at Stormtracker at 6 AM Monday. (WGME)
For many areas north of Portland through central and eastern Maine, a fluffy 1-3” of snow is likely.
Forecast snowfall map for Sunday night. (WGME)
Those areas previously highlighted from Rockland through Downeast may see spots upwards of 4-5”.
This will pass, and the Frigid air settles in.
Highs Tomorrow Interactive.png
Highs on Monday will only top out in the teens to low 20s.
Wind chill values Monday afternoon. (WGME)
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Wind chill values will stay in the single digits for much of the day.
TURNER, Maine (WGME) — The Maine Human Rights Commission is adding a sixth school district to their lawsuit over transgender policies in schools across the state, that’s according to our media partners at the Sun Journal.
Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at keeping transgender athletes out of girls’ sports, arguing it protects fair opportunities under Title IX.
In a board meeting on Thursday, MSAD 52 voted to align Trump’s polices with the district.
Shortly after, the district was added to the list of schools being sued.
“I think it comes to a point where it goes against the state, but we gotta do what’s right. And I think it’s right to support female athletes,” Board Chair Peter Ricker said. “I think there are potential lawsuits regardless on the issue until the state makes up their mind and until the feds make up their mind.”
The board voted 5-4 in favor of passing a policy to keep transgender athletes out of girls sports.
Evan Ipsaro scored 24 points to lift Miami of Ohio to a 93-61 win over the University of Maine in a non-conference men’s basketball game on Saturday in Oxford, Ohio.
Keelan Steel scored 14 points for Maine, which has lost 11 straight games to start the season. The Black Bears trailed 28-6 just over 10 minutes into the first half.
Eian Elmer added 16 points and six rebounds for the RedHawks (8-0).
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