In January, he posted a photo of an ID badge and wrote, āFound this today: It's my Prison ID from when they held me hostage as a January 6th Political Prisoner.ā
Evans, an admitted felon and Donald Trump acolyte, who spent three months in federal prison, now wants to get back to the Capitol ā but this time, as an elected lawmaker.
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Evans is running for the Republican nomination in West Virginiaās 1st Congressional District ā an overwhelmingly conservative area where the Republican nominee is all but assured to win.
He is running from the right of incumbent Rep. Carol Miller, a Republican who Evans dismissed in a recent social media post as āworse than a RINO,ā the political slur for āRepublican in name only.ā
Added Evans: āShe is an undocumented Democrat.ā
This week, Evans touted an endorsement from presidentially pardoned Trump operative Roger Stone, who said, āDerrick did time in prison and even in solitary confinement for standing with President Trump and protesting Joe Biden's stolen election.ā
Evans also has endorsements from Trump loyalists Michael Flynn, the retired general, and Mike Lindell, the bombastic pillow peddler.
Neither Evans nor Miller responded to Raw Storyās request for comment.
Evans has embraced January 6 as his primary brand. But he sprinkles racism and Christian Nationalism into his public missives, as well.
A recent post by Evans on X invoked the racist āreplacement theoryā that non-white immigrants are part of a plot to replace white political and social power.
Another, seemingly random post, said, āPut Aunt Jemima back on the syrup bottle,ā a reference to the Quaker Oats company changing the name and label of its famous brand by eliminating the racist caricature of a Black woman.
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He has also posted of the former first lady, āWho thinks Michelle Obama is really a man?ā
In a recent post, Evans complained that āChristian tax dollarsā were being used to paint rainbow sidewalks, and another post said, simply, āYou can follow the science. Iām going to continue following Jesus.ā
Go to Evansā website and youāll find a page that might cause you to believe the site is hacked.
āJ6 PRISONER running for U.S. CONGRESS,ā it says under a photo of a man in a gray hoodie leaving a building and looking down. āStanding U.S. Legislator Arrested and Imprisoned. MEET DERRICK EVANS.ā
But it isnāt a hack. Itās Evansā sales pitch.
A fundraising page on Evansā campaign website says, āWhen I take my seat in Congress, we will turn the tables and the hunters will become the hunted. Mark my words, they fear Patriots like President Trump and myself. Bogus charges are all they have left.ā
āThe revolution has started!ā
Evans, a member of West Virginiaās House of Delegates before resigning after his arrest, has amassed a large social media following.
He admitted in court documents that he posted inflammatory messages on social media promoting Trumpās speech on January 6, 2021. They included an image that said, āA STORM IS COMING ā¦ AND THERE IS NOTHING THE LEFT CAN DO TO STOP IT!ā Another said, āFIGHT FOR TRUMP - JANUARY 6 - Weāre Cominā!ā
Evans took a chartered bus to Washington, D.C. He skipped Trumpās speech because of the long lines and went straight to the Capitol. He saw the crowd grow, overwhelm police and breach the entryway. Evans was close behind.
On Facebook, Evans live streamed ā and later tried to delete ā video of the insurrection, peppered with his own giddy commentary as he entered the Capitol: āPatriots aināt gonna stand down to tyranny anymore! Patriots aināt gonna stand down for stolen elections anymore!ā
At one point, Evans is shown shouting to police officers. He turns the camera to himself, wearing a helmet, and says, āLetās go! We took it over. We took it over!ā
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After a loud bang from the direction of the Rotunda doors, an unidentified person says, āItās time to leave.ā
āNo it aināt!ā Evans says. āThe Doors are open! The Doors are open! Itās no time to leave! We havenāt done nothing yet! ā¦ On the back side of the Capitol! American Patriots have took a stand! Weāre at the Doors, knocking and pounding on the doors. Weāve taken over the balconies, on top of vehicles!ā
He exults, āGuys, oh my gosh, I canāt even explain what is happening right now, how
amazing this is to see in person. I am in awe. The revolution has started. The revolution has started!ā
Evans would become much less enthusiastic when he stood charged with federal felonies that were reduced to a single count as part of a plea bargain.
A low profile?
Before his sentencing on June 22, 2022, numerous letters of support from family and friends extolled Evansā good deeds. He had no criminal record before the insurrection.
Evans said in a statement three days after being arrested, āI take full responsibility for my actions, and deeply regret any hurt, pain or embarrassment I may have caused my family, friends, constituents and fellow West Virginians.ā
He presented himself to the court as contrite. In a memo for the judge to consider before sentencing, even prosecutors said Evans had cooperated, been remorseful and ākept a low profile.ā
āThis distinguishes Evans from some rioters with significant public profiles who have used their platforms after January 6 to brag about their conduct or to continue to promote the myth that the presidential election was stolen, justifying the incursion into the Capitol,ā prosecutors wrote.
Evans, 38, and his wife have four young children. Before Evans became prisoner No. 24839-509, his lawyer filed letters of support for the judge to consider at sentencing. One was from a Facebook follower named Kimberly D. Maynard, who was obviously impressed with Evansā post-arrest, pre-sentencing persona.
The judge sentenced Evans to three months in federal prison ā well below the maximum five years ā and a $2,000 fine.
But Evansā ālow profileā became a return to politics with a coarse, loud and proud defense of his actions on January 6 and everything MAGA.
He has claimed that because he refused to get the COVID vaccine upon entering the minimum-security prison he was placed in solitary confinement for eight days. Asked to verify the former inmateās account, a Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesperson declined to comment.
Evans is also speaking volumes about how he was actually right on January 6, and that President Joe Biden committed ātheft of the Nov. 3, 2020, U.S. presidential election.ā
Instead of letters, Evansā supporters are now sending money. His campaign had raised nearly $300,000 as of Dec. 31, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission, with most of that coming from small-dollar donors who gave $200 or less.
Millerās campaign has raised about $580,000 this election cycle ā almost all of it from large-dollar donors and political action committees, FEC filings indicate.
The Republican primary between Evans and Miller is scheduled for May 14.
