Who Is Ryan Clayton? Protester Throws Russian Flags, Accuses POTUS Of Treason

A protester threw Russian flags at President Donald Trump while he was walking into a lunch with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. A report also suggested that the flags that were thrown at POTUS had “Trump” written on both sides.

The flags did not appear to hit President and the video shows him and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walking away from the scene without reacting.

The protester was later identified as Ryan Clayton, President of the Americans Take Action — a progressive political group that has increased its efforts to improve public policies in the country ever since Trump took the office. Its official website describes itself as “a populist network formed to restore free and fair elections in America, create a purpose-driven economy, and save the free and open internet." The official website also states the network's first priority as of now is “resisting the Trump regime, every day and every step of the way."

Clayton has previously worked for progressive non-profit organizations, political candidates, and for elected officials. So, he understands the working of various American policies, the Huffington Post reported.

After the protest, Clayton, who was standing among the members of the press and posing as a journalist, was later taken into custody by the US Capitol Police. A website, Heavy.com, reported that while being taken into custody, Clayton yelled and accused the President of treason. “This president has conspired with agents of the Russian government. We should be talking about treason in Congress, not about tax cuts!” he said.

The Capitol police, in a press release, has said they have charged Clayton with unlawful conduct and the incident is under investigation. Unlawful conduct is an offense that carries a potential sentence of up to six months in prison and/or a fine.

Americans Take Action was quick to react to their president’s action and hailed his bravery in a Facebook post. “Ryan Clayton. Fearless hero. Willing to put himself at risk for the lives of others, once again acting on one of America’s most integral rights as Protected by the First Amendment. Ryan Clayton is more dedicated to protecting the First Amendment than Donald Trump. Captain America? We think so,” the post read.

Clayton has been a strong voice in American politics as he has been featured numerous times by media houses such as MSNBC, FOX News, CNN, BBC, CCTV & RT and his projects have been highlighted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Boston Herald, USA Today, The Guardian (UK), Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Raw Story among others, according to the Huffington Post report.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that Clayton pulled a stunt like that. He garnered attention in February when he and another Americans Take Action activist, Jason Charter, handed out Russian flags, with “Trump” emblazoned in gold on each side, to members of the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference, according to The Atlantic. The duo handed out about 1,000 flags, and then took photos of members of the crowd waving.

Clayton was also involved in another incident on July 24 when he asked Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to sign a Russian flag. "Will you sign my Russian flag? Sign my Russian flag please!" Clayton was shouting before security put him away, The Hill reported.