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.
While influenza remains the top concern for Maine public health experts, other viruses are also currently circulating, including norovirus and COVID-19.
“Influenza is clearly the main event,” said Dr. Cheryl Liechty, a MaineHealth infectious disease specialist. “The curve in terms of the rise of influenza cases was really steep.”
Maine reported 1,343 flu cases for the week ending Jan. 3, an uptick from the 1,283 cases recorded the previous week, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalizations increased to 147 from 108 during the same time periods.
“I hope the peak is now,” Liechty said, “but I’m not really sure.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday that all of New England, except for Vermont, is currently experiencing “very high” levels of influenza. Vermont is in the “moderate” category.
“What we are seeing, overwhelmingly, is the flu,” said Andrew Donovan, associate vice president of infection prevention for Northern Light Health. “We are seeing both respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses in our patients.”
Norovirus also appears to be circulating, although due to its short duration and because it’s less severe than the flu, public health data on the illness — which causes gastrointestinal symptoms that typically resolve within a few days — is not as robust.
“Norovirus is the gastrointestinal scourge of New England winters and cruise ships,” Liechty said.
According to surveillance data at wastewater treatment plants in Portland, Bangor and Lewiston, norovirus levels detected in those communities are currently “high.” The treatment plants participate in WastewaterSCAN, which reports virus levels in wastewater through a program run by Stanford University and Emory University.
Dr. Genevieve Whiting, a Westbrook pediatrician and secretary of the Maine chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said viruses are prevalent right now, especially the flu and norovirus.
“For my patients right now, it’s a rare encounter that I hear everyone in a family has been healthy,” Whiting said. “I’ve had families come in and say their entire family has had norovirus. Several of my patients have had ER visits for suspected norovirus, where they needed IV fluids because they were dehydrated.”
Both Liechty and Whiting said they are seeing less respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, likely because there has been good uptake of the new RSV vaccine, which is recommended for older people and those who are pregnant. The vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023.
“The RSV vaccine has been a real success, as RSV was a leading cause of hospitalizations for babies,” Whiting said.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases increased to 610 in the final week of 2025, compared to 279 the previous week. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations are available at primary care, pharmacies and clinics across the state.
“If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet,” Liechty said, “you should beat a hasty path to get your shot.”
Defensemen Max Wanner was re-assigned to the Maine Mariners from the Providence Bruins on Thursday. Defenseman Michael Underwood was also re-assigned to Maine.
Wanner, 22, was acquired by the Boston Bruins when they traded Trent Federic to Edmonton last March. He played in 15 games for the AHL Providence Bruins at the end of last season, and seven this season.
Underwood returns for his second stint with the Mariners. He appeared in 67 games with Maine last season.
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