Alleged Antifa attacker John Hacker testifies in tears during Andy Ngo trial, confesses to attack, admits to working wit

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Alleged Antifa attacker John Hacker testifies in tears during Andy Ngo trial, confesses to attack, admits to working with (NPR)journalist Sergio Olmos

Alleged Antifa-affiliated defendant John Colin Hacker testified on Monday in journalist Andy Ngo's civil trial against Rose City Antifa, and confessed to alleged crimes levied against him in the complaint. This testimony came as Judge Sinlapasai issued new court orders that banned the public and non-credentialed press from being in the courtroom for the duration of the trial. This decision was made due to multiple disruptions in the courtroom since the trial began last week, as well as safety concerns.

Hacker has been accused by Post Millennial Senior Editor Andy Ngo of assault, battery, theft, and intentional infliction of emotional distress over multiple alleged incidents of violence which began in 2019, according to the complaint. Ngo is seeking $300,000 from Hacker in damages.



Defendant Hacker, who is allegedly one of Antifa's "doxers," like defendant Elizabeth Renee Richter, who is also named in the complaint, testified that he is a Portland-based social justice activist and citizen journalist who has a special "skillset" at identifying people dressed in covert attire such as black bloc, which is Antifa's militant uniform. He testified in his deposition that one of his primary jobs is to "identify right wingers" that infiltrate events.

Hacker has been accused of approaching and identifying Ngo during an action, which led to a series of physical beatings carried out by Antifa militants, until Ngo sought refuge inside The Nines Hotel in downtown Portland, Oregon on May 28, 2021, according to the complaint. Ngo testified last week that he was wearing black attire to conceal his identity due safety concerns while reporting on an event organized by Rose City Antifa when he was approached by defendant Hacker. Hacker was allegedly the first person to approach Ngo that night, according to Ngo's testimony.

During sworn testimony, Hacker testified that he allegedly approached Ngo because the journalist was wearing goggles that stood out amongst the crowd. He said that he had asked the individual a question about his goggles, not knowing it was Ngo at the time. He suspected that person was Ngo after observing his mannerisms and body shape, according to testimony. Hacker said that after he had allegedly approached Ngo, he revealed suspicions about Ngo's identity to independant journalist Sergio Olmos.

While Hacker testified that he approached Ngo and told Olmos about his suspicions that night, stating that he believed it could have been a "story," he did not admit on the stand to telling anyone else about Ngo covering the protest that night.



When asked during cross examination about utilizing Twitter to allegedly dox people, Hacker testified, "I feel like its important that people know there is a lot of right-wingers that infiltrate, and so any time that happens I note it on Twitter."

However, Hacker also recalled that he had spoken to defendant Elizabeth Richter shortly after approaching Ngo. Richter has also been accused of broadcasting Ngo's location on livestream, doxing the journalist on Twitter, and encouraging more assaults on Ngo during that night.

These allegations have been backed by evidence, which has been submitted to the court by Ngo's team.



During testimony, it was revealed that defendant Richter had thanked a "bad*ss f*cking comrade" for identifying Ngo on Twitter following the vicious attack. Hacker testified that he was unaware of who Richter was referring to in her tweet, and Richter testified that she did not recall who she was referring to.

After these two defendants approached Ngo, he was brutally beaten by a group of black bloc Antifa militants that chased him throughout downtown Portland, surveillance video evidence shows. Ngo testified that this was the incident that "broke him." Defendant Hacker was visible on surveillance video roaming with the mob of Antifa reportedly after they had attacked Ngo. In one video, an Antifa militant that had beaten Ngo is seen speaking to Hacker and placing his hand on his shoulder in what Ngo's team alleged looks like in a "congratulatory" manner.

Hacker testified that he did not witness the assaults and does not know who Ngo's attackers were. Despite testifying that he is a specialist in identifying people even when they obscure their identities, Hacker asserted during cross examination that he does not know who attacked Ngo.

The defendant claimed that he wasn't positive about Ngo's identity until "after he was in the Nines hotel and being filmed." Hacker testified that he avoided Ngo after suspecting his identity due to a prior lawsuit involving Ngo.


John Hacker. Photo credit: John Rudoff.

While on the stand, Hacker had broken down in tears and told Ngo that watching what had happened to him was "heartbreaking." Ngo testified that he does not believe Hacker physically beat him that night.

Ngo's team is suggesting that defendants Hacker and Richter know the identities of Andy Ngo's attackers and are allegedly covering for them, which is preventing Ngo from receiving justice and could embolden them to carry out more attacks knowing they won't be held accountable.

When asked about Rose City Antifa, Hacker testified that they "obviously have a website" and that "there is some type of organization or collaboration" but he is "not familiar with how they work." He also testified that he has "communicated with people in black bloc on occassion."

Regarding the May 7, 2019, incident in which Hacker allegedly assaulted and forcibly took Ngo's phone during an unprovoked altercation at the gym, Hacker admitted to pouring water on Ngo, slapping the phone out of Ngo's hand, and then taking off with it. Ngo testified that this was the first time he had been approached in a hostile manner in his personal life.

The defendant showed remorse for his actions and testified that he had "acted on impulse," stating that his actions were "inapporpriate." Hacker alleged that he targeted Ngo because he was upset with his reporting a few days prior. He allegedly confronted Ngo about "covering for fascists" and alleged false reporting on an anti-ICE protest that Hacker had been involved in organizing.


Andy Ngo. Photo credit: John Rudoff.

Hacker claimed that when he saw Andy Ngo at the gym, "I was like, 'f*ck this guy,' and poured water on him." Hacker explained that was "not an appropriate way to address my irritation" and had he not done that, they could have possibly had a "regular conversation."

When asked if he is a member of "Antifa," Hacker testified that he is an "anti-fascist" but does not associate with phrase "Antifa" because it is "used to discredit left-wing protesters." While at protests, Hacker said that he covers the events and also does "cop watch," which is looking for police officers in order to alert protesters about the whereabouts of those officers.

Regarding his personal life, Hacker told a story of triumph in which he has overcome addiction after becoming addicted to opiates after he received third degree burns to 79 percent of his body. He overcame addiction in 2007 and got an associate's degree which led to him becoming an addiction counselor. He later obtained a BAS in public health, and then a masters degree in criminology and criminal justice. However, he did not pursue a career in these fields, and is now a stay-at-home dad instead.

Defendant Hacker apologized to Ngo and teared up on the stand when he mentioned Ngo's testimony revealing that he had to flee the country to start a new life abroad over safety concerns and is unable to take care of his elderly parents because of it. Hacker said it "hit home" because he was unable to right his wrongs with his father before he had passed.

Joseph Christian Evans, a 39-year-old Oregon man with an extensive criminal history in several counties, who was also named in the complaint, arrived at the courthouse on Monday despite being found in default by the court, which excluded him from the civil jury trial. Evans has been accused of violently beating Ngo in June 2019, when Ngo was attacked by Antifa militants with projectiles and milkshakes.

According to Ngo's civil complaint, he was also punched, kicked, and struck in the head and face with plywood-edged sign placards and carbon-hardened tactical gloves. Ngo was hospitalized for a brain bleed over the assault. Evans was recorded on video on the same day bashing a man on the head from behind using a weapon or tool.



On July 14, the court in Multnomah County granted an order of default against defendants Evans, Madison Lee Allen and Corbyn/Katherine Belyea in Ngo's lawsuit. The judge will likely decide the damages after the main trial.

In December 2022, Evan's changed his legal name to Sammica Overkill Schott-Deputy ("shot deputy") and his legal sex is now "nonbinary." Judge Patrick W. Henry signed an order finalizing Evan's request despite being under litigation at the time.