Oregon – An Oregon man has been charged with a federal hate crime in connection with a series of events that unfolded over a five-month period where he vandalized a synagogue in Eugene. Adam Edward Braun, 34, stands accused of targeting Temple Beth Israel, marking the sacred place with graffiti that bore antisemitic symbols and messages.
The charges stem from Braun’s alleged actions spanning from August 2023 to January 2024. Court documents detail four separate instances where Braun defaced the synagogue, culminating in an attempt to damage the property further. On January 14, 2024, armed with a hammer, Braun approached the glass doors of Temple Beth Israel, only halting his planned destruction upon noticing a surveillance camera. Undeterred, he relocated to another part of the property, where he spray-painted “White Power” in large letters on the building’s exterior.
The breakthrough in the case came on January 31, 2024, when Eugene Police, with support from the FBI, executed a search warrant at Braun’s residence. The search uncovered compelling evidence linking Braun to the vandalism at Temple Beth Israel. Additionally, investigators found materials and writings at his home that were consistent with antisemitic beliefs, further supporting the charges against him.
Braun’s arrest by the FBI occurred without incident, and he has since made his initial appearance in federal court. The judge has ordered him detained pending further legal proceedings.
The case, investigated by the FBI and Eugene Police Department, is now in the hands of Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin W. Bruce and Trial Attorney Cameron A. Bell from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.