A CAPITOL Hill rioter alleged to have stolen a laptop from the office ofNancy Pelosi and then planned to sell it to Russia has been arrested.
Riley June Williams, 22, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was seen on video taking part in the Capitol Hill siege and directing other rioters, the Department of Justice alleges.
In a court affidavit detailing the allegations, FBI agent John Lund said a former romantic partner of Williams told the agency that, during the riots, Williams had taken either a laptop or a hard drive from Pelosi's office.
The former partner – named only as W1 – also said they had been played a video by other associates of Williams that showed her taking the item.
“[Witness 1] stated that Williams intended to send the computer device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence service,” court documents allege.
The plan reportedly did not go ahead for reasons that are not clear.
Williams was charged with entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct after footage from inside the Capitol showed her appearing to direct other rioters.
But she has so far not been charged in relation to the alleged theft of the device.
Police said Williams fled the Harrisburg apartment she shares with her mother but was arrested in central Pennsylvania, CBS3 reports.
"According to local law enforcement officers in Harrisburg, Williams’ mother stated that Williams packed a bag and left her home and told her mother she would be gone for a couple of weeks," the affidavit says.
"Williams did not provide her mother any information about her intended destination."
Pictures from after the riots showed a number of offices inside the Capitol – including Pelosi's – ransacked.
Lund writes: "The transfer of the computer device to Russia fell through for unknown reasons and Williams still has the computer device or destroyed it.
"This matter remains under investigation."
Police said she was arrested in central Pennsylvania on Monday night.
In footage captured by ITV, Williams is seen herding rioters up a staircase inside the Capitol and repeatedly shouting: "Upstairs, upstairs, upstairs."
The affidavit stated that the staircase shown leads towards Pelosi's office.
Pictures also show Williams at some point before the riots holding a large rifle and wearing a skull-themed face mask.
Speaking to investigators, Williams's mother reportedly identified her in the clip and said she had recently developed an interest in MAGA politics and begun using "far-right message boards".
On January 11, Williams's mother also filed a suspicious persons report against W1, although the details of that report are not known.
At least 125 people have so far been arrested and charged over their role in the riot at the Capitol building on January 6, including one man pictured with his feet up on Pelosi's desk.
Those arrested face charges from curfew violation and entering a restricted building up to theft and unauthorised possession of a firearm.
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