United States

Man With White House Stay Away Order Accused of Stealing From Congressman's Desk

A man with a history of court orders to stay away from U.S. government landmarks is charged with breaking into the U.S. House office of Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., and stealing personal items from Mullin’s desk.

The News4 I-Team learned the man is also accused of breaching security near the White House earlier this year, one of 23 breaches of White House and U.S. Capitol security since January 2014.

Edgardo Javier Ramon

Prosecutors charged Edgardo Javier Ramon with unlawful entry and theft for the incident at Rep. Mullin’s Longworth House Office Building suite. Police records obtained by the I-Team said Ramon stole commemorative coins and a “personalized” container from Rep. Mullin’s desk. The theft occurred at 11:53 a.m. July 26, a busy day of votes and committee hearings in the U.S. House.

Mullin’s spokesman, Mike Stopp, told the I-Team the congressman was not in his Longworth suite when the theft occurred. The congressman’s desk is in an office suite on the first floor of the Longworth House Office Building. U.S. House office suites include a main lobby and several cubicles or work spaces for staffers. The U.S. House member’s desk is traditionally inside a larger, enclosed office in the suite.

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The stolen coins were “challenge coins” gifted to the congressman, Stopp said. Rep. Mullin's publicly posted photos show he often distributes similar challenge coins to constituents.

Ramon’s attorney declined to comment on his case. Court records show he pleaded not guilty to the theft charge.

An investigation by the I-Team revealed Ramon has a history of run-ins with federal law enforcement. In March, he was arrested and charged with defacing a statue in Lafayette Park near the White House. Court records said Ramon used a black sharpie marker to vandalize the statue.

Days later in March, U.S. Secret Service arrested Ramon for violating a stay away order from the White House. Court records said Ramon was spotted walking along the 1400 block of New York Avenue, in violation of court orders he stay away from the areas near the White House.

Ramon violated a stay away order from Capitol grounds days after his arrest for the theft from Mullin’s office, prosecutors said. He is charged with contempt of court for doing so.

According to the I-Team investigation, Ramon is one of 23 people charged by federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., for breaching security or violating stay away orders from the White House or U.S. Capitol in the past three years.

Court filings from prosecutors show a judge has extended Ramon’s stay away orders to include U.S. Capitol grounds.

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