WASHINGTON — A federal prosecutor advised jurors that “seems to be may be deceiving” as he urged them to convict a younger girl charged with aiding the theft of a laptop computer from Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s convention room throughout the Jan. 6 assault.
Riley June Williams, a 23-year-old Pennsylvania girl affiliated with the extremist “Groyper” motion, is going through eight counts in reference to the Jan. 6 assault. Opening statements in Williams’ trial started Tuesday after the jury was seated. The jury is generally white, with one Black male among the many 12 jurors and two alternates.
Williams is charged with obstructing, impeding, and interfering with regulation enforcement officers throughout civil dysfunction; obstructing an official continuing; assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with regulation enforcement officers contained in the Capitol constructing; stealing authorities property; and 4 misdemeanor expenses confronted by defendants who entered the Capitol.
Assistant U.S. Legal professional Michael Gordon advised jurors throughout opening statements that Williams “doesn’t seem like a rioter,” noting her small stature and age, however mentioned that “seems to be may be deceiving” and that Williams is responsible on all eight counts.
“Appears may be deceiving, however proof is just not,” Gordon mentioned.
“Riley Williams could not seem like a risk to democracy,” Gordon advised jurors, noting that she was a younger, small girl who has worn heeled boots and stockings to court docket. However on Jan. 6, Gordon mentioned, “that’s precisely what she was.”
Gordon confirmed jurors photographs and movies of Williams all through her time on the Capitol, together with footage that she filmed within Pelosi’s convention room as rioters unhooked a laptop computer. Footage exhibits Williams encouraging different rioters to take the laptop computer and use gloves; the federal government doesn’t allege that she really left with the laptop computer however that she aided and abetted its theft. Additionally they say Williams bragged about stealing a tough drive and gavel.
The laptop computer that was stolen was utilized by Pelosi for “all her Zoom conferences,” Gordon advised jurors.
Prosecutors additionally confirmed body-worn digital camera footage of Williams pushing into the police line, and mentioned she was one of many final to depart the constructing. She then deleted her Snapchat, bought a brand new cellphone, and used a “business grade” product to erase her pc, the federal government alleged.
Protection legal professional Lori J. Ulrich, a federal public defender, advised jurors that Williams “needed to be any individual,” and described how she traveled to Washington along with her father, from whom she separated earlier than coming into the Capitol. She described Williams as a then-22-year-old wannabe, advised them the fundamental information will not be actually in dispute, and mentioned she wouldn’t insult jurors’ intelligence by claiming that what Williams did wasn’t captured on video.
She performed video that Williams posted that includes a caption that learn “WE’RE STORMING THE WHITE HOUSE,” which she mentioned illustrated that Williams didn’t come to Washington with a sport plan.
“She wasn’t out to harm Nancy Pelosi; she wasn’t out to harm anybody,” Ulrich mentioned, including that the defendant’s “boasting and bragging bought her into massive bother.” Ulrich mentioned that Williams by no means really took the laptop computer and that there wasn’t proof that she stole a tough drive or gavel, both.
Practically 900 defendants have been arrested in reference to the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, and greater than 350 defendants have been discovered responsible. A whole lot extra Jan. 6 members have been recognized however not but arrested, and the Justice Division is urgent for extra sources for the unprecedented investigation.
The Williams trial is unfolding in the identical federal courthouse in Washington the place a number of members of the Oath Keepers, together with Stewart Rhodes, are going through trial on expenses of seditious conspiracy.
