Felony Assault Charges Filed Against Maryland Lawyers

On Tuesday, lawyers in Maryland were hit with felony assault allegations, a situation that reportedly originated from incidents involving National Guard officials last Friday.

As detailed in official documents and a statement from Amtrak Police Sergeant Robert Underwood, the altercation began when two South Carolina State Guard members were patrolling near Union Station. Scott J. Pichon, riding a lime scooter, allegedly approached them and was seen spitting in their direction after an apparent cough. This account has been circulated through various reports.

Pichon was taken into custody on a federal warrant related to the assault charges. Notably, he was released without bail by U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey following his court appearance, according to WUSA.

On August 13, D.C. U.S. Attorney Janine Piro addressed a separate incident involving an individual arrested for assaulting an officer with a subway sandwich, later identified as an employee of the Department of Justice.

Amid ongoing federal oversight in Washington, D.C., National Guard and federal law enforcement have been actively patrolling the region. Since a crackdown initiated by Trump, the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department has recorded numerous arrests and confiscated weapons, as highlighted by Attorney General Pam Bondy.

Recent crimes in the district have drawn national scrutiny. Among them, incidents such as the injury of Edward Coristine during a violent protest and the murder of an intern for a Kansas Republican representative. The escalating violence includes attacks on Israeli Embassy employees and a Democratic congresswoman in 2023.