NC Woman Charged In Connection With Jan. 6 Capitol Riot

NORTH CAROLINA — A North Carolina woman was arrested by federal officials Monday, becoming the third person in the state charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot in the U.S. Capitol.

Virginia Marie "Jenny" Spencer's arrest comes about three weeks after her husband Christopher Spencer of Pilot Mountain was also arrested for participating in the incident.

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Spencer was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds.

Spencer told investigators during an interview last month that she and her husband traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of a caravan to attend the Jan. 6 rally. "During the interview, J. Spencer stated that the (now former) President was saying we're going to march to the Capitol," the document said. "According to J. Spencer, they then agreed with each other to walk towards the Capitol, see it, and then go home."

She told investigators that she and her husband walked behind a "militia-looking group," but as events unfolded, the crowd began to push and "she could not get away because she was afraid of being trampled," the documents said. She also said that while she took photos outside the Capitol, "she did not take any pictures or video of anything inside the Capitol."

SEE ALSO: FBI Charges NC Man In Connection With Capitol Riot

The charging documents, however, detailed another scenario. Federal officials cited the couple's movement through the Capitol's Crypt, the Speaker of the House wing and Statuary Hall based on more than 20 minutes of video taken from inside and live-streamed by her husband during the event.

"The Spencers do not appear to be actively searching for exits during these videos, instead C. Spencer joins in with the chanting and comments to his viewers on Facebook live," the document said. "Also, the Capitol surveillance video shows J. Spencer using her phone in what appears to be an attempt to videotape the event in the Statuary Hall connector."

Christopher Spencer was accused in court documents last month of posting at least three videos from inside the Capitol, including from the wing where House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office is located.

"As he walks through Statuary Hall, Spencer says, 'Who would've knew the first time I ever come would be to storm,'" the document said. "He then moves towards the entry doors to the House of Representatives where a crowd is gathered chanting, 'Stop the steal. Stop the steal.' Later you can also hear screams of, 'Open the door!' The video ends with chants of, 'Break it down! Break it down! Break it down!'"

"Christopher Spencer is charged with illegally entering our Nation's Capitol building and broadcasting his crimes live on social media for the world to see," FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Robert Wells said. "Now he will experience the federal justice system firsthand. This is the first federal arrest in North Carolina, but will not be the last if FBI investigations prove anyone else from North Carolina committed crimes related to the Capitol violence."

Stephen Maury Baker, 32, was also arrested Feb. 1 in the Eastern District of North Carolina, and charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds.

According to federal charging documents, the FBI received at least four tips that Baker live-streamed footage during the riot to YouTube and Instagram under the name "Stephen Ignoramus." That footage was then picked up in reports via MSN, Vice.com, and CNN.

SEE ALSO: Second NC Man Charged In Connection With Capitol Riot