(LifeSiteNews) – A judge issued a nationwide arrest warrant for a Canadian man seeking asylum in the United States who is facing five charges for his role in the 2022 Freedom Convoy against COVID mandates.
James Bauder, 55, of Calgary, Alberta, was due to appear in an Ottawa courthouse on August 26 and 27. However, according to reports, he had already fled to the United States in early August. He has claimed he faces political persecution by the Canadian government.
The Democracy Fund (TDF), which is funding Bauder’s lawyers, Lawrence Greenspon and Eric Granger, was recently in court on his behalf. However, on August 31, Justice Kevin Phillips issued a Canada-wide warrant for Bauder’s arrest, as the court had demanded he be there in person despite his asylum claim status.
As noted by the TDF in a recent press release, Bauder says that he faces “political persecution by the Canadian government.”
According to reports, he filed an asylum claim in the United States on August 5. The TDF noted that under U.S. law, “if an asylum claimant returns to Canada while their U.S. asylum claim is pending, it may undermine the claim of persecution, thereby jeopardizing the asylum application.”
“Accordingly, on August 11, 2025, TDF lawyers brought an application to adjourn Mr. Bauder’s November criminal trial,” the TDF said.
Greenspon told the media last week that the “issue” is what would happen to Bauder should he “come back to Canada.”
“We know now, as of today, the first thing he’s going to be facing is an arrest warrant,” he said.
TDF litigation director Mark Joseph noted that this is an “extremely unusual case.”
“Mr. Bauder has filed an asylum application in the U.S. based on political persecution. While his asylum claim is proceeding, Mr. Bauder is afforded certain legal protections under international and U.S. law,” he said.
“Though we respect the decision of the Court, our position is that Mr. Bauder should not be forced to choose between his right to a fair trial and the viability of his U.S. asylum claim.”
For his peaceful role in the 2022 protests in Ottawa, Bauder is facing a total of five criminal offenses, including mischief, counseling mischief, intimidation, counseling intimidation, and obstructing police. His criminal trial is to be held on November 10.
Bauder had founded Canada Unity, a group that called for an end to all COVID vaccine mandates as well as vaccine passports as a result of the 202 Freedom Convoy protests.
He currently has a GiveSendGo campaign, which has raised US $13,380 as of publication.
Despite the peaceful nature of the 2022 Freedom Convoy, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act to clear out protesters, an action a federal judge has since said was “not justified.” During the clear-out, an elderly lady was trampled by a police horse and many who donated to the cause had their bank accounts frozen.
The sentencing trial for Freedom Convoy leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber took place in July in a hearing. Earlier this year, they were found guilty of mischief in their roles in the 2022 convoy.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich revealed that the Canadian federal government is looking to put her in jail for no less than seven years and Barber for eight years.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled in their case for October 7 in Ottawa.
