Attorney General Recognizes Portland Federal Prosecutor for Contributions to January 6 Capitol Breach Cases

WASHINGTON— Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland presented federal prosecutor Geoffrey Barrow, an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Oregon, with the prestigious John Marshall Award for his exceptional contributions to criminal cases stemming from the U.S. Capitol breach on January 6, 2021.

John Marshall awards, presented annually by the Attorney General, are the Justice Department’s highest awards presented to attorneys and other litigation support staff for contributions and excellence in specialized areas of legal performance.

“Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.”

“We are incredibly proud of the contributions Geoffrey Barrow has made to these important cases. The department’s January 6 prosecution effort is unprecedented in both its scope and complexity, and has required many dedicated public servants, like Geoff, to temporarily put aside their normal duties to represent the interests of all Americans,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Barrow was recognized, together with 14 other department attorneys and litigation support staff, for his innovation and leadership in meeting the extraordinary discovery demands posed by the simultaneous prosecution of more than 1,200 capitol breach defendants. Together, these cases have produced more than 5 million electronic files and an unprecedented amount of surveillance video, police camera footage, and other digital evidence collected on or after January 6. Barrow and his team worked with a contracted partner to create a secure, online repository for all January 6 evidence to expeditiously meet the government’s discovery production requirements across all January 6 cases.

In the 36 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,265 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 440 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.

Department of Justice staff from across the country, including multiple Assistant United States Attorneys from the District of Oregon, have been detailed to the department’s January 6 investigation, which is ongoing. Anyone with information or tips should call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.