Capitol riot suspect who plotted to sell Nancy Pelosi’s laptop to Russia released into her mother’s custody
The Pennsylvania woman who planned to sell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s laptop to Russia is heading home after a three-day stint behind bars.
Riley June Williams, 22, of Harrisburg, Pa., was set for release into her mother’s custody Thursday and ordered to appear in Washington, D.C., federal court for a Monday hearing on her role in the U.S. Capitol insurrection.
Federal prosecutors had earlier opposed her release, arguing that Williams was a flight risk. U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin Carson, noting that Williams had no prior criminal history, instead imposed travel restrictions on the suspect before agreeing to turn Williams loose.
But he also noted “the gravity of these offenses is great. It cannot be overstated.” Williams surrendered to authorities on Monday.
She was turned in by an ex-boyfriend who called the FBI, with court papers revealing that he told authorities of Williams bragging about a plan to sell the laptop to Russian intelligence.
According to authorities, Williams also admitted to the crime on social media. “I DOMT (sic) CARE I TOOK NANCY POLESIS (sic) HARD DRIVES I DON’T CARE KILL ME,” she wrote in a post on the Discord platform.
There was also video surveillance footage showing her entering and leaving the Democratic leader’s Capitol office, along with a video recorded by the defendant showing a black-gloved hand snatching the laptop off Pelosi’s desk, court documents said.
A third video appeared to show Williams urging fellow rioters to go “upstairs, upstairs, upstairs” during the attack as Congress met to certify President Biden’s election.
She faces 10 years in prison for the theft with an additional 20 years on a charge of disrupting a session of Congress.
