ST. PAUL, Minn. – Linwood “Woody” Kaine has been sentenced over his involvement in the Antifa riots against March 4 Trump supporters.
Kaine, who made national headlines when he was arrested with seven other co-defendants in connection with riots at the Minnesota State Capitol in March, is the son of former vice presidential candidate and sitting U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA). On March 4, Antifa members, including Kaine, flooded the Capitol building to disrupt local Trump supporters who were gathering in conjunction with the national March 4 Trump movement.
Many Antifa members attempted to conceal their identity by covering their faces with bandanas and goggles. As Alpha News reported, the rioters used mace, tasers, smoke bombs, and firecrackers on members of the pro-Trump rally, and punched others in the face. Kaine was one of six counter protesters arrested over the violence.
Following the arrest, Kaine was charged with two misdemeanors, fleeing on foot and concealing one’s identity in a public place, and one gross misdemeanor, obstruction of the legal process. Obstruction of the legal process accompanied by violence or the threat of violence carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and/or $3,000 in fines.
Kaine was originally set to take part in an omnibus hearing on January 24, 2018, with five other Antifa members charged in the March 4 riots. However, Kaine’s sentencing hearing was quietly moved up to December 11 without explanation. Jonathan Aanestad, one of the Trump supporters assaulted by Antifa, was there for the hearing and shared the details with Alpha News. According to Aanestad, no other media outlets were there for the hearing.
During the sentencing hearing, two of the charges against Kaine, fleeing on foot and concealing one’s identity in a public place, were dropped. The more serious charge against Kaine, obstruction of the legal process, was reduced to a simple misdemeanor.
With the charges reduced, Kaine received a $150 fine. No further jail time will be required.
According to Aanestad, the sentencing hearing for Hayley Marina Ryan, Kaine’s girlfriend who was also arrested during the Antifa riots, was also quietly moved up to December 11. Ryan was originally charged with fleeing officers and concealing her identity. Her sentencing was reduced to a $100 fine.
While there has been no formal indication why the trial date was moved up, the secretive manner in which the sentencing hearing was conducted leaves some to speculate the Kaine family were hoping to avoid media attention.
The three remaining Antifa members from the March 4 Trump riots are expected in court in January.
