Los Angeles-based actor Siaka Massaquoi was arrested Thursday night at a Los Angeles airport on four misdemeanor charges related to his peaceful participation in protests in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. Massaquoi and his pregnant wife were returning from Nashville, where they attended the premiere of the Daily Wire's new film "Ladyballers." 

Massaquoi, who ran for the California State Assembly in 2022, currently serves as the first vice-chair of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County. He is also a RedState columnist.

Although the charges (trespassing, parading, and disorderly conduct) are misdemeanors, FBI agents took Siaka to jail, where he was kept overnight until being released on a $1,000 OR bond at the end of the day Friday. 

Siaka Massaquoi embraces his wife and supporters after being released from jail. (CREDIT: Roxanne Hoge, used with permission)

On January 6 Massaquoi went to the Capitol after attending a rally. Video shows the extent of his involvement:

Siaka's North Hollywood home was raided in June 2021 by "about 20 agents armed and outfitted in tactical gear shortly before 6 a.m." one Friday morning. His roommate's two sons, ages 3 and 7, were at the home when it was raided. Siaka was not charged at the time and eventually filed a Bivens suit against the FBI. That suit was dismissed in August 2023.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said yesterday that if an actor whose home was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation based on his attendance at the Jan. 6, 2021 pro-Trump rally in the District of Columbia is to receive redress, it must come from the Executive Branch, not the courts.

A three-judge panel—comprised of Ninth Circuit Judges Morgan Christen and Jennifer Sung and Senior Judge A. Wallace Tashima—affirmed the dismissal of a Fourth Amendment claim by Siaka Massaquoi, the first vice-chair of the Los Angeles County Republican Central Committee who ran unsuccessfully last year for the state Assembly.

Dismissal of his claims under the First and Fifth Amendments was previously summarily affirmed by a Ninth Circuit motions panel.

After Babylon Bee's Seth Dillon posted about Siaka's arrest Elon Musk weighed in, saying, "This has gone too far."

Reached at home Sunday, Siaka said:

I'm so grateful to Jesus for being with me and my family throughout this unbelievable event. He took care of my wife Charlotte and me while we were separated, and I know His hands were all over getting me back to her. It is heartbreaking and unfortunate for all that we are living in an America like this. We are at a fork in the road for our nation and its future. I pray moments like mine and many others, that have gone unseen, will sober us back to the foundations of what made the promise of this country great.

Charlotte and I are so grateful for all the love and support we have received so far and know we will get through this with God's grace. Thank you for your prayers and support.

One of Siaka's last tweets before being dragged away from his wife by federal agents is chilling, in retrospect. Sharing a story about the DOJ ordering a sweep of Twitter data for people who liked Donald Trump's tweets, Siaka sarcastically wrote, "No, the Biden regime isn't weaponizing the government against Americans."

Siaka's next court hearing is Thursday, December 7, in Los Angeles. Contributions to his legal fund can be made here.