Riley June Williams was taken into custody in Pennsylvania’s Middle District on Monday.
However, the FBI said in an arrest warrant on Sunday that Williams has not been charged with theft, but only illegal entry into the Capitol and disorderly conduct.
FBI officials said a caller claiming to be an ex of Williams said friends of hers showed him a video of she taking a laptop or hard drive from Pelosi’s office. The caller claimed she intended to send the device to a friend in Russia who intended to sell it to that country’s foreign intelligence agency, but that plan failed and she either had the device or destroyed it. The FBI says the case is still under investigation.
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Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, confirmed on Jan. 8 that a laptop had been removed from a conference room, but said that “it was a laptop used only for presentations.”
Williams’ mother, who lives with her in Harrisburg, told ITV reporters that her daughter had suddenly taken an interest in President Donald Trump’s politics and “ far-right message boards. ” Her father, who lives in Camp Hill, told local police that he and his daughter went to Washington on the day of the protest, but did not stay together and later agree to return to Harrisburg, the FBI said.
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FBI officials said they believe Williams “fled” before she was arrested. Her mother told local police that she was grabbing a bag and leaving, saying she would be away for a few weeks. She also changed her phone number and deleted some social media accounts, the FBI said. Court documents do not list a lawyer for her.
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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