Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein is facing local charges over her actions at an anti-pipeline protest in North Dakota.

Authorities in Morton County filed warrants Wednesday for the arrests of Stein and her running mate Ajamu Baraka, on charges of criminal trespass and criminal mischief, both misdemeanors, the Bismarck Tribune reported.

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The county sheriff's department said Stein and Baraka vandalized equipment at a construction site for the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline in Morton County while trespassing at the site along with activists.

The warrant said law enforcement officers saw a video of Stein spray painting “I approve this message,” on construction equipment, and another of Baraka painting “decolonization” and “We need decolonization.”

Stein called her actions “civil disobedience” in a statement admitting to the accusations, and said she intended to protect American Indian burial sites and drinking water.

“I hope the North Dakota authorities press charges against the real vandalism taking place at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation: the bulldozing of sacred burial sites and the unleashing of vicious attack dogs,” she said.

“I hope they take action against the Dakota Access Pipeline company that is endangering drinking water not only for the Standing Rock Sioux, but for millions of people downstream of the reservation who depend on the Missouri River.”

Environmentalists and American Indian tribes are trying through multiple means to get Dakota Access’s construction blocked, including challenging an Army Corps of Engineers permit its developer obtained.

They say it would pass through or near sensitive water bodies, risking the water quality, and the oil it would carry would be harmful to the climate.

The activists scored a victory Tuesday when a federal judge issued a temporary, limited order halting some of the project’s construction.</s>A North Dakota judge issued a warrant Wednesday for the arrest of Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, who is accused of spray-painting construction equipment during a protest against the Dakota Access pipeline.

Court records show Stein was charged Wednesday in Morton County with misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass and criminal mischief. The same charges have been filed against her running mate, Ajamu Baraka.

Stein campaign spokeswoman Meleiza Figueroa could not immediately comment on whether Stein plans to turn herself in.

Activists invited Stein to leave a message at the protest site near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's reservation on Tuesday, Figueroa said, and Stein sprayed "I approve this message" in red paint on the blade of a bulldozer. A court document shows Baraka painted the word "decolonization" on a piece of construction equipment.

Morton County Sheriff's Office spokesman Rob Keller said the warrant has been filed and if authorities were to come across Stein, "they would arrest her."

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is trying to stop construction of a section of the $3.8 billion four-state pipeline that tribal leaders say would violate sacred and culturally sensitive grounds and possibly pollute water.

Before the charges were filed, Stein said in a statement said she hoped North Dakota authorities "press charges against the real vandalism taking place at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation: the bulldozing of sacred burial sites and the unleashing of vicious attack dogs."</s>BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein says she's working with North Dakota authorities to arrange a court date on charges related to her participation in a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Stein has acknowledged spray-painting construction equipment Tuesday in North Dakota. Stein and running mate Ajamu Baraka were charged Wednesday with misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass and criminal mischief, and authorities issued arrest warrants.

Stein defended her actions to the Chicago Tribune (http://trib.in/2cfvzAg ) Thursday during a campaign stop in Chicago. She said it would have been "inappropriate for me not to have done my small part" to support the Standing Rock Sioux.

In this Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016 photo, Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein prepares to spray-paint "I approve this message" in red paint on the blade of a bulldozer at a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline in the area of Morton County, N.D. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said Tuesday that authorities plan to pursue charges against Stein. (Alicia Ewen/KX News via AP)

The tribe says the pipeline threatens sacred sites and drinking water.

The $3.8 billion pipeline is to carry oil from western North Dakota to Illinois.

In this photo provided by LaDonna Allard, Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, second from right, participates in an oil pipeline protest, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016 in Morton County, N.D. North Dakota authorities plan to pursue charges against Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein for spray-painting construction equipment at a Dakota Access Pipeline protest. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said Tuesday that the charges would be for trespassing and vandalism. (LaDonna Allard via AP)</s>MANDAN, N.D. – Morton County authorities issued warrants Wednesday for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and her running mate after video showed them spray painting graffiti on a bulldozer as they joined protesters at a Dakota Access Pipeline site Tuesday.

The Morton County State’s Attorney’s Office filed criminal complaints against Stein and running mate Ajamu Baraka for criminal trespass and criminal mischief. Both charges are Class B misdemeanors punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine.

The Morton County Sheriff’s Department said warrants were issued for both suspects. Authorities were alerted to video that showed Stein painting “I approve this message” on the front of a bulldozer and Baraka painting the last word in the message “We need decolonization,” according to the statement.

Stein’s campaign emailed a statement to Forum News Service at about the same time Wednesday afternoon acknowledging that she spray-painted the message on the bulldozer, saying it was one of the same bulldozers used to destroy what the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe says were sacred burial sites in the pipeline route west of Highway 1806 on Saturday, which led to a clash between protesters and private security guards armed with pepper spray and guard dogs.

“I hope the North Dakota authorities press charges against the real vandalism taking place at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation: the bulldozing of sacred burial sites and the unleashing of vicious attack dogs,” Stein said. “I hope they take action against the Dakota Access Pipeline company that is endangering drinking water not only for the Standing Rock Sioux, but for millions of people downstream of the reservation who depend on the Missouri River.”

About 200 people protested at the construction site two miles east of State Highway 6 about 20 miles south of Mandan, and two protesters bound their hands to bulldozers for several hours. Law enforcement officers were present but kept their distance and didn’t intervene. No arrests were made, but the sheriff’s department said it’s “actively investigating all unlawful acts” associated with the protests.</s>WASHINGTON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - A sheriff's department in North Dakota is investigating possible charges against the U.S. Green Party presidential candidate, Jill Stein, for damaging equipment during protests on Tuesday over construction of an oil pipeline.

Stein was part of a group protesting the Dakota Access pipeline and spray-painted construction equipment, the Morton County Sheriff's Department said. Stein does not dispute the account.

Protesters, who say the project will damage burial sites considered sacred to a nearby Native American tribe and pollute the area's drinking water, also attached themselves to bulldozers and broke a fence, the department said.

Stein, a 66-year-old doctor and environmental activist from Massachusetts, said in a statement that she had spray-painted the words "I approve this message" onto a bulldozer, a nod to the phrase American politicians append to their advertisements to comply with transparency laws.

No arrests were made, the department said, and the investigation was continuing. The department also posted a picture on its Facebook page that showed Stein spraying the bulldozer, calling it a "criminal act."

The $3.7 billion, 1,100-mile (1,800-km) pipeline project would be the first to move crude oil from the Bakken shale, a vast oil formation in North Dakota, to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Energy Transfer Partners is leading a group of firms to build it.

The project sparked violent clashes during the weekend between tribe members and other protesters and security officers near the construction site, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is seeking a court order to block construction.

The Green Party opposes continued investment in oil extraction because of its link to climate change.

"I hope the North Dakota authorities press charges against the real vandalism taking place at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation: the bulldozing of sacred burial sites and the unleashing of vicious attack dogs," Stein said in her statement. She said that pipeline security officials had used dogs and pepper spray on protesters over the weekend.

A spokeswoman for Energy Transfer Partners did not respond to a request for comment.

A Reuters-Ipsos poll in late August showed Stein the first choice of 2 percent of voters, trailing Democrat Hillary Clinton, Republican Donald Trump and Libertarian Gary Johnson. The U.S. presidential election will be held on Nov. 8.

Stein was arrested for trespassing in Texas during her 2012 presidential campaign when she tried to take supplies to protesters opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline.</s>WASHINGTON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Authorities in North Dakota are investigating possible charges against U.S. Green Party presidential candidate for allegedly damaging equipment during protests on Tuesday over construction of an oil pipeline in the state.

Jill Stein allegedly was part of a group protesting the building of the Dakota Access pipeline and spray painted construction equipment, Morton County Sheriff's Department said. Protesters also attached themselves to bulldozers and broke a fence, the department said.

No arrests were made, Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said in excerpts of a news conference posted to the department's Facebook page.

The department also posted a picture that is said showed Stein spraying paint on construction equipment. "Authorities are investigating this criminal act," it wrote in the post late on Tuesday. Possible charge could include trespassing and vandalism, according to media reports.

Representatives for Stein could not be immediately reached for comment.

The $3.7 billion, 1,100-mile (1,770-km) pipeline project would be the first to move crude oil from the Bakken shale, a vast oil formation in North Dakota, to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Energy Transfer Partners is leading a group of firms to build it.

The project sparked violent clashes during the weekend between protesters and security officers near the construction site, which several Native American tribe oppose, saying it affects areas where they have sacred sites.

On Tuesday, a federal judge granted in part and denied in part a temporary restraining order requested by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and a neighboring tribe.

The judge said he would decide by Friday whether to grant the tribes' larger challenge to the pipeline, which would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw permits for the project.

Kirchmeier and other local authorities on Tuesday urged a peaceful resolution to the protests, which they said were continuing.

A Reuters-Ipsos poll in late August showed Stein, whose party promotes environmental issues, with 2 percent of voters in a field with Democrat Hillary Clinton, Republican Donald Trump and Libertarian Gary Johnson.

Stein was arrested for trespassing in Texas during her 2012 presidential campaign when she tried to take supplies to protesters opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline.</s>CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) — Authorities say they will charge Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein who is accused of spray-painting construction equipment during a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.

Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said Tuesday that Stein will face trespassing and vandalism charges.

A spokeswoman for Stein says activists invited her to leave a message at the protest site Tuesday. Stein sprayed "I approve this message" in red paint on the blade of a bulldozer.

In this photo provided by LaDonna Allard, Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, second from right, participates in an oil pipeline protest, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016 in Morton County, N.D. North Dakota authorities plan to pursue charges against Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein for spray-painting construction equipment at a Dakota Access Pipeline protest. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said Tuesday that the charges would be for trespassing and vandalism. (LaDonna Allard via AP)

As of late Tuesday, Stein was not arrested or charged in the incident.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is trying to stop construction of a section of the pipeline that tribal leaders say would violate sacred and culturally sensitive grounds. Angry protesters faced off with construction workers at the site on Saturday.</s>MORTON COUNTY, N.D. – More than 100 protesters gathered at a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site Tuesday where two people bound themselves to bulldozers and Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was meeting with pipeline opponents.

A woman and a man attached themselves to equipment east of State Highway 6 using the same type of casting material used by demonstrators last week. The gathering began about 10 a.m. Tuesday northwest of the main pipeline protest site. About 75 people remained by 12:30 p.m.

Witnesses said pipeline construction workers were in the area when protesters arrived but are no longer working in the area.

Stein leaned on the blade of a bulldozer as she talked to those gathered at the site.

“I’m not here for a photo op. For me, this work began long before the campaign,” said Stein, noting she was arrested in the fight to stop Keystone XL.

Protesters grilled Stein on what policy changes she would make to improve conditions for Native Americans. At one point, a protester said “Where’s Obama?” and she replied “Exactly, where is Obama?”

Law enforcement monitored the situation from the top of a hill but was not working to cut the protesters free, as they did last week during a similar demonstration.</s>Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said that he is seeking to file charges against Stein for spray painting the construction vehicle, though the 2016 long-shot was not arrested during the protest.

Stein can be seen on local media outlet video Tuesday shaking a can before spraying something onto the front blade of the bulldozer at a construction site in St. Anthony, North Dakota. The company Energy Transfer Partners is behind the pipeline construction, though its unclear whom specifically the bulldozer belongs to or which site she was on. It was not clear what Stein spray painted onto the bulldozer.

CNN has reached out to both the Stein camp and the Morton County Sheriff's office to confirm the details, but did not immediately receive a response. As of Wednesday, charges against Stein had not yet been filed.

Kirchmeier told the Bismarck Tribune that he was working with the state attorney's office regarding charges. CNN has reached out to the North Dakota Attorney General's office and have not yet gotten a response.

A spokesperson for Stein told KXMB that she will hold a news conference Wednesday. Stein was in North Dakota with dozens of demonstrators to protest the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline , a nearly $4 billion effort to construct a pipeline linking the Bakken shale formation, a large shale oil deposit in the state, with oil refineries on the Gulf coast. Displaying her activist credentials, Stein spoke to some of the protesters about the pipeline and did some campaigning as well. She described herself as "someone who's been here with you on the frontlines" and joined a scattered "where's Obama?" chant. Stein has a history of environmental activism, and was arrested in 2012 when she was running for president in that cycle during her protest outside a presidential debate she was not invited to.</s>CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) — Authorities say they will charge Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein who is accused of spray-painting construction equipment during a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.

Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said Tuesday that Stein will face trespassing and vandalism charges.

A spokeswoman for Stein says activists invited her to leave a message at the protest site Tuesday. Stein sprayed “I approve this message” in red paint on the blade of a bulldozer.

As of late Tuesday, Stein was not arrested or charged in the incident.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is trying to stop construction of a section of the pipeline that tribal leaders say would violate sacred and culturally sensitive grounds. Angry protesters faced off with construction workers at the site on Saturday.
The sheriff's department of Morton County, North Dakota, issues arrest warrants for United States Green Party presidential candidate, Jill Stein, and her running-mate, Ajamu Baraka on charges of criminal trespass and criminal mischief. The county sheriff's department says that Stein and Baraka vandalized equipment at a controversial pipeline construction site.