Jake Lang, a January 6 defendant who received a presidential pardon, was escorted out of a Michigan campaign event after attempting to disrupt a Democratic Senate candidate’s rally, according to videos posted online.
Disruption at Michigan Rally
Lang stood up during a canvassing launch for Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for Senate in Michigan, and shouted at speakers. El-Sayed’s campaign captured the moment on video showing Lang yelling during the event before being removed. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison was speaking when Lang interrupted, according to reports from journalists who attended. Lang appeared to direct his comments toward Ellison specifically during the disruption.
Jan 6 terrorist Jake Lang tried to crash our canvass launch. Here’s how real Americans responded: pic.twitter.com/4RgyMFmyha
— Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) July 18, 2026
El-Sayed responded by leading his supporters in chanting and clapping as security escorted Lang from the venue. The candidate used the interruption to criticize Lang’s actions, telling attendees that Lang opposed American principles. Video footage shows El-Sayed instructing his audience to applaud as Lang was removed from the event.
Pattern of Confrontations
Lang has a documented history of legal troubles and public confrontations. He received a ten-day jail sentence earlier this year in Tennessee after being removed from a bond hearing for another individual. Last November, Lang led a demonstration against Muslims in Michigan that included burning religious texts, an event that ended with Lang being physically assaulted. The frequent legal issues have marked his public activities since receiving his pardon for January 6-related charges.
Following the Michigan event, Lang posted responses on social media that included comments about Islamic law and Michigan. Political commentators and elected officials, including Georgia state legislator Ruwa Romman and British-American commentator Mehdi Hasan, shared the videos from the event online, where they generated significant attention.
Campaign Response
El-Sayed’s campaign used the incident to reinforce their messaging about defending democratic institutions and American values. The candidate’s team quickly posted multiple videos documenting the disruption and their response. The footage shows Lang getting only a brief opportunity to yell before El-Sayed took control of the situation by directing supporters to drown out the disruption with patriotic chants. The incident occurred during a critical campaign period as El-Sayed works to build support for his Senate bid in Michigan.