Sam O’Hara sued the District of Columbia after police handcuffed him for up to 20 minutes during the September 2025 incident before releasing him without charge. He alleged officers violated his constitutional rights to free speech and protection against unreasonable detention.

Court papers filed on Thursday confirm O’Hara will withdraw his claims against the district and four Metropolitan Police Department officers once payment is received, although the amount has not been disclosed. His separate claims against an Ohio National Guard sergeant remain ongoing.

O’Hara, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, said the settlement showed “constitutional freedoms are worth defending, especially when those in power would prefer we stay quiet”. His videos of the protest, set to “The Imperial March”, attracted millions of views on TikTok.