Authorities Concerned Riley Williams, Alleged Capitol Rioter Accused Of Stealing Nancy Pelosi's Laptop, May Destroy Evidence
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) -- The Department of Justice says it's now concerned alleged Capitol rioter Riley Williams might destroy evidence. At a court hearing Monday, officials said that includes the possibility she may have, or could have, deleted online messages and accounts.
Prosecutors allege the 22-year old woman from Harrisburg was involved in the theft of a laptop from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office during the Jan. 6 riot and plotted to sell it to Russia.
Video from the riot shows a woman matching Williams' description exhorting invaders to go "upstairs, upstairs, upstairs" during the attack, which briefly disrupted certification of President Joe Biden's electoral victory.
In adding the theft-related charges on Tuesday, a Virginia-based FBI agent said Williams was recorded on closed-circuit cameras in the Capitol going into and coming out of Pelosi's office.
The agent's affidavit said a cellphone video that was likely shot by Williams shows a man's gloved hand lifting an HP laptop from a table, and the caption read, "they got the laptop."
Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, has said a laptop used only for presentations was taken from a conference room.
Williams is accused of theft, obstruction and trespassing, as well as violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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