Top Stories

Mother of 8 accused of participating in siege of U.S. Capitol indicted by D.C. courts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Mercer County mother of eight was indicted by a grand jury on charges related to her role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Rachel Marie Powell, 40, was indicted Thursday on charges including committing an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; destruction of government property; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

Officials said she appeared to have inside knowledge of the layout of the Capitol grounds and was instructing other rioters where to go and what to do.

Last month, a second federal judge denied a government motion to keep Powell behind bars, and she was released on house arrest. She was allowed to leave Pennsylvania only to attend court hearings in Washington, D.C.

The government believes Powell may be a flight risk, but her attorney said she doesn’t have any prior criminal record. Her attorney also pointed out she did not physically harm anyone during the riot.

After the riot, authorities searched Powell’s home and found several smashed cellphones, “go bags” with ammunition, rope, duct tape, throwing stars, knives, lighters, a tarp, zip ties and loaded magazines for an AK-47 rifle.

Powell became known as “the pink hat lady” for what she was wearing during the riot.

>>RELATED: Woman released on house arrest pending trial for role in U.S. Capitol violence