Judge Makes Ruling On PA Woman Accused Of Stealing Pelosi's Laptop

HARRISBURG, PA — The 23-year-old Pennsylvania woman who police said stole Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's laptop during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was denied a venue change for her trial, a judge ruled this week.

Riley June Williams, 23, of Mechanicsburg in Cumberland County, had asked for her trial to be moved out of Washington D.C. because she did not believe the jury in her district would be impartial, court documents show.

The appeal implied the liberal leanings of the majority of D.C. residents.

According to investigators, Williams' former romantic partner said that they saw her depicted in video footage taken Jan. 6 inside the U.S. Capitol Building. The caller said that Williams can be seen directing crowds inside and up a staircase.

The caller said there is also video footage of Williams taking a laptop computer or hard drive from Speaker Pelosi's office. The caller told the FBI that Williams intended to send the computer device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell it to SVR, Russia's foreign intelligence service, the affidavit said.

According to the tipster, the transfer of the computer device to Russia fell through for unknown reasons and Williams destroyed the device. "This matter remains under investigation," investigators said in the affidavit.

Williams fled after Jan. 6, deleting all of her social media profiles and losing contact with friends and family, officials said.

While Williams is not incarcerated presently, a July ruling from a federal judge required that Williams remain on an ankle monitor pending her trial. She remains on house arrest.

She faces several charges, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Williams is among at least 60 Pennsylvanians who face criminal charges related to the Jan. 6 riots.