Rachel Marie Powell, a mother of eight from Pennsylvania who became known as “the megaphone lady” after she was filmed shouting orders to troublemakers during the Capitol looting, was released on bail by a DC federal judge.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Beryl Howell described Powell’s alleged actions on January 6 as “so unpatriotic that my straight hair is curled,” but said Powell could receive an electronic ankle monitor and be confined at his home in Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania. times pending your trial in DC
If she is allowed to leave the house to work, see a doctor or meet with her lawyer, Powell should wear a face mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Howell said.
Powell’s nose and mouth were not covered during the Capitol rebellion, according to video evidence presented in court, Howell noted. Prosecutors pointed out that Powell had already been fired from a job for refusing to wear a mask. But Powell’s lawyer, Michael Engle, insisted that his client would follow the rules if he were released.
“We thank the court for giving Rachel the opportunity to return to her family and reunite with her children,” Engle told The Daily Beast after the hearing. “Obviously, we have a lot of work to do in order to determine the best way to proceed with this case, but today it was a significant step in the right direction for Rachel, so that she could see her children and resolve this homework issue of being incarcerated. “
Powell, 40, was arrested by the FBI in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on February 4, ending a national hunt during which the then fugitive gave an incoherent phone interview to Ronan Farrow of The New Yorker. Powell, who sells cheese and yogurt at a farmer’s market in western Pennsylvania, faces charges of obstruction, depredation of government property, entering a restricted building with a dangerous weapon and violent entry / disorderly conduct. The government said in a lawsuit that Powell left his children alone at home when she joined the January 6 riot.
“The defendant abandoned her children and traveled to the District of Columbia to participate in an act of insurrection,” prosecutors wrote. “She came prepared, armed with ear protectors designed to stifle shots and wearing a jacket designed to hide a weapon. Not content to demonstrate peacefully, she used a battering ram to invade the United States Capitol. In doing so, she put the lives of police and protesters at risk. So she guided her rowdy companions on how to best penetrate the Capitol. By directly encouraging violence and destruction, the defendant fueled a situation that threatened the peaceful transfer of power in the United States. “
On Tuesday, a Pennsylvania federal judge ordered Powell to be released pending trial. In response, the government immediately asked for the order to be suspended. Powell was detained until Howell made his decision on Thursday.
Entering the Capitol building violently is a “very serious” offense that can carry up to 20 years in prison, and the government has cell tower data that puts Powell in turmoil, Howell said during today’s remote hearing. Powell was “enthusiastically” participating in the insurrection, using a megaphone to give instructions on ways to further penetrate the Capitol, and used a battering ram to break a window, Howell continued, adding that Powell then gave an interview to The New Yorker “And he admitted his involvement in the attempt to disrupt our constitutional democracy.”
Still, Howell said he only caused damage to the property and did not bring weapons with him to DC. In addition, Powell surrendered to the FBI, handed over his passport and, after his arrest on February 4, took steps to remove several weapons from his home, which Howell said also weighed in favor of Powell’s release.
In addition, Howell said, the Justice Department did not object to two members of the Proud Boys who scribbled “Murder the Media” on a door inside the Capitol and were released on bail. Howell questioned whether Powell, who has no criminal history, has strong ties to his area and teaches five of his eight children at home, could be considered a greater danger to the community in comparison.
“When the government appeals the judge’s decision to the district court, it’s a totally new assessment of the evidence by a different judge, so you never know what’s going to happen,” said Engle. “We were satisfied [Howell] decided that these conditions were adequate. “
An anonymous informant first revealed Powell to the authorities, according to court documents. The FBI was then able to compare Powell’s photos on Facebook using a distinct set of earmuffs with those she was seen wearing on Capitol Hill.
Powell has only recently begun to express extreme political opinions, in the past posting anodyne missives on Facebook about yoga and organic foods. After becoming influenced by figures like Infowars founder Alex Jones, who claimed the Sandy Hook school shooting was a scam, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who made numerous false claims while working as a personal lawyer. Donald Trump’s tone changed.
“It is not for [sic] too late to wake up, say no and restore liberties, ”Powell wrote on Facebook last May.
In a search of Powell’s house and car, agents found three “travel bags” containing, among other things, ammunition, bows, rope, tape, knives, ninja stars and two magazines loaded for an AK-47. They also discovered a series of cell phones that appeared to have been shattered in what prosecutors believe was an attempt by Powell to destroy the evidence.
“It’s crazy,” a Powell’s neighbor told KDKA, an affiliate of Pittsburgh CBS News. “We are Republicans, but we would never do anything like that. Biden is the president now. Live with it. Leave it behind.”