FBI probes rioter’s attempted selling of Pelosi’s laptop to Russia [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• FBI said that it was investigating a case involving Riley June Williams, the woman who reportedly stole House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s laptop during the Capitol siege.
• The agency received a tip that Williams tried to sell the laptop to a Russian friend but did not push through.
• Pelosi’s office confirmed that a laptop was missing though it was not clear if it was the stolen laptop by Williams.

A recent investigation by the FBI involved the case of a woman who took Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CALIF.) laptop during the Capitol siege and attempted to sell it to the Russians.

In a court filing on Sunday, the investigators said that it got a tip from a person who claimed to be a previous partner of Riley June Williams, the person who reportedly stole Pelosi’s laptop. William’s partner directed the FBI to a footage from inside the Capitol, which aired on ITV News.

The caller also said that Williams’ friends showed a video of her getting the laptop or hard drive from the Speaker’s office. Per the court filing, the resource person told the agency that Williams “intended to send the computer device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence service.”

Per the affidavit, the transfer did not push through for anonymous reasons. It said that Williams “still has the computer device or destroyed it. This matter remains under investigation.”

The affidavit also claimed that Williams reportedly fled from his Pennsylvania home, abandoned her old cell phone number, and took down her social media accounts following the siege.

Per the video from ITV News, Williams was seen directing people to go to a staircase leading to Pelosi’s office, according to authorities. In another footage, Williams was seen entering the Capitol from outside of the building. She was wearing a green T-shirt with a brown trench coat.

Williams is facing the following charges: unlawful entering in a restricted building or grounds; violent entry; and disorderly conduct committed in the US Capitol.

According to Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill, the stolen laptop was the one being used for presentations. It’s unclear though whether the laptop was the same as the one reportedly stolen by Williams. 

Pelosi’s spokesman has not yet responded to a request for comment by the Hill.

Over 100 arrests have been made following the January 6 Capitol riot that ended in five deaths including one police officer. Multiple videos showed the pro-Trump mob storming the Capitol as several of them flocked Pelosi’s office.

Source: The Hill