Fired Covington Associate Arrested in Washington, D.C.
On August 24, 2025, Paul Bryant, a former associate at Covington & Burling LLP, was arrested in Washington, D.C., following a confrontation with National Guard officers patrolling the city. The incident, detailed in court documents obtained by RollOnFriday, occurred around 11 p.m. when Bryant approached the officers, making threatening statements such as “These are our streets,” “I’ll kill you,” and claiming he was “strapped.” A search revealed a legally registered Glock 47 9mm pistol tucked in his waistband with one round in the chamber, which violated D.C. law prohibiting unholstered concealed carry. A further search of his 2025-registered BMW uncovered a legally registered Tokarev Bullpump 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition.
Bryant, a Black, neurodivergent former fifth-year corporate attorney and West Point graduate, was charged with simple assault, a pistol misdemeanor, and making threats while armed. During his arrest, he claimed to be an officer of the D.C. Bar and alleged civil rights violations, stating he was “accosted” by 20 officers, including MPD, FBI, and ATF agents, while “walking peacefully.” Video footage shared on X by user @LongTimeHistory shows Bryant, handcuffed and flanked by officers, asserting his compliance and sanity. He plans to press charges against those who “assaulted” him, according to the post.
The arrest followed Bryant’s public allegations on LinkedIn that a Covington partner used a racial slur against him after he resisted pressure to quit, claiming he was pushed out for refusing to write SEC disclosures supporting “anti-minority and anti-women” initiatives tied to Donald Trump’s policies against BigLaw diversity programs. Covington increased security at its D.C. office for weeks in response to Bryant’s conduct, citing precautionary measures.
Bryant’s case is part of a broader wave of arrests in D.C., with over 1,000 individuals detained in August 2025 under the Trump administration’s “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful” initiative, which deployed federal agents and National Guard troops to combat crime. Court records indicate many arrests, including Bryant’s, involved minor or non-violent offenses, raising concerns about federal overreach.
For more information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia at usadc.publicaffairs@usdoj.gov.