Authorities in Colorado are seeking the public’s help in finding a stolen 200-year-old painting of George Washington, calling it a “national treasure” and enlisting the help of the FBI in the investigation. The painting was taken from a storage unit in late January and the Englewood Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward.
According to Englewood Police Sergeant Ed Disner, the painting was likely stolen during a break-in on the night of January 10th. The value of the painting has not been disclosed due to its “historical significance,” although it has been confirmed to have been in the family for over 50 years.
In a statement released on social media, the police department pleaded with the public to help find the painting, which is said to have been created in the early 1800s. They have also enlisted the help of the FBI’s Denver bureau in the investigation.
#FBI Denver is assisting @PoliceEnglewood in the investigation into the missing painting. Please contact EPD, @CrimeStoppersCO or FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or https://t.co/nfbjZhdWhf if you have any information.
— FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) February 13, 2024
The National Archives building and galleries in Washington D.C. were also in the news this week after two protesters dumped red powder on the protective case around the U.S. Constitution, prompting an evacuation of the building. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, although there was no damage to the Constitution itself.
A video posted on social media showed two men covered in red powder protesting for clean air, water, food, and a livable climate. According to the Archivist of the United States, Colleen Shogan, the National Archives is “the sanctuary for our nation’s founding documents” and vandalism of any kind is taken very seriously.
🚨Climate activists just dumped red powder on the display of the US Constitution in the Rotunda of the National Archives in DC! pic.twitter.com/XhNfWcIVUz
— DEL (@delinthecity_) February 14, 2024
“We take such vandalism very seriously and we will insist that the perpetrators be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Shogan said in a statement.
Police have since led the protesters away and are conducting further investigations. In response to the incident, the National Archives released a statement saying, “We all deserve clean air, water, food and a livable climate.”
Yeah so just we’re all clear, two guys with backpacks walked into the Capitol Rotunda, stood in front of display of US Constitution, released an unknown mysterious powder into the air, and security guards just casually went about their day. https://t.co/3L3IAwLPFO
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) February 15, 2024
Authorities are urging anyone with information on the stolen painting or the incident at the National Archives to come forward immediately.
