The FBI is investigating whether a Pennsylvania woman who was seen by video during the Capitol riots stole a laptop or hard drive from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office and planned to sell it to the Russians, officials said. .
The FBI is looking for Riley June Williams on charges of, among other things, entering a restricted building, interfering with the orderly behavior of the government, and displaying disorderly or disruptive behavior.
There is no indication that a laptop was actually stolen from the speaker’s office and the agency said in an affidavit that “the matter is still under investigation.”
“It appears that WILLIAMS has fled,” the affidavit said. According to local law enforcement officers in Harrisburg, WILLIAMS ‘mother stated that WILLIAMS took a bag and left her home and told her mother she would be away for a few weeks.
“WILLIAMS has not provided her mother with any information about her intended destination,” he added.
A witness described as a former romantic partner of Williams claimed to have seen footage of her “taking a laptop or hard drive from Speaker Pelosi’s office.”
“[Witness 1] stated that WILLIAMS intended to send the computing device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence agency, ”said an agent.
According to [Witness 1]the transfer of the computing device to Russia has failed for unknown reasons and WILLIAMS still has or destroyed the computing device, ”said the affidavit, which contains a link to a documentary produced by London-based ITV News.
A woman identified as Williams – wearing glasses, a green shirt and a brown trench coat and a bag over her shoulder – can be seen shouting “above, above, above,” pushing people to Pelosi’s office, according to NPR .
The show selects the woman, saying she was “disciplined, focused, with a sense of urgency, leading people up stairs.”
On January 16, William’s mother told authorities “that a British media crew had come to her home the night before to ask to see WILLIAMS, who was not present,” the affidavit said.
“The news crew gave WILLIAMS ‘mother one or more photos taken in the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Her mother acknowledged it was WILLIAMS in the picture,” the affidavit said.
“Looks like WILLIAMS has fled,” he added.
Williams has not been charged with theft.