Far-Right Influencer and Senate Hopeful Detained Over Capitol Ice Sculpture Incident
The controversial far-right influencer and declared US Senate candidate, Jake Lang, has been taken into custody by local authorities following an incident where he was filmed damaging a politically charged ice sculpture at Minnesota's state capitol. Lang, who previously received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6th Capitol attack, posted a video on social media platform X showing himself kicking the frozen artwork, which altered its message from "Prosecute ICE" to "Pro ICE".
Felony Charges and Immediate Arrest
Lang was arrested on the same day as the incident, 5th February, and is currently being held on suspicion of criminal damage to property, a charge classified as a felony under Minnesota law. The Florida resident's actions have sparked significant controversy, given his high-profile status as a political figure and his history of extremist activities.
Veterans Group Condemns Attack on Free Speech
The ice sculpture was commissioned and installed by the veterans organisation Common Defense, which had obtained all necessary permits for the display on the steps of the state capitol in St Paul. Jacob Thomas, the communications director for Common Defense, issued a strong statement in response to the vandalism, emphasising the group's commitment to constitutional rights.
"I gave eight years of my life in service to this country in the military," Thomas stated, as reported by Fox 9. "For a January 6 insurrectionist to destroy our display is an attack on the First Amendment veterans like me fought to defend." This condemnation highlights the broader implications of the incident as an assault on free expression.
Background of Anti-Islam and Pro-ICE Activism
Lang's arrest comes in the wake of his attempts to organise an anti-Islam, anti-Somali, and pro-ICE demonstration in Minneapolis in January. He had publicly declared his intention to "burn a Qur'an" on the steps of city hall, though the event drew only a small number of supporters. It was met by hundreds of counter-protesters who disrupted the gathering, leading to Lang appearing injured with bruises and scrapes as he departed the scene.
This demonstration occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the area, following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old US citizen, by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis on 7th January. Another similar incident on 24th January, where Alex Pretti was also fatally shot by immigration agents, further fuelled protests against ICE operations in the region.
Legal History and Political Ambitions
Lang's legal troubles are not new; he was previously charged with serious offences during the January 6th attack, including assaulting an officer with a baseball bat and civil disorder. His pardon by Donald Trump at the start of Trump's second presidency, along with over 1,000 others implicated in the Capitol riot, cleared his record. In March 2025, Lang announced his candidacy for the US Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, positioning himself as a far-right voice in American politics.
The incident at Minnesota's capitol underscores the ongoing polarisation surrounding immigration enforcement and free speech in the United States, with Lang's actions drawing attention to the volatile intersection of activism, vandalism, and political campaigning.
