Woman may have tried to sell Pelosi computer device to Russians, FBI says

[webfact 81,934]

Woman may have tried to sell Pelosi computer device to Russians, FBI says

By Jan Wolfe

 

A woman identified in a warrant logged January 17, 2021 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as Riley June Williams, a Pennsylvania woman accused of unlawfully breaching the U.S. Capitol building and directing people to U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office, is seen in an undated driver's license photograph. FBI/Handout via REUTERS

 

(Reuters) - U.S. law enforcement is investigating whether a woman took a laptop computer or hard drive from U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office during the Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol and tried to sell the device to Russian intelligence, according to a court filing.

 

An FBI agent disclosed the detail in an affidavit released on Sunday night that outlined a criminal case against Riley June Williams, a Pennsylvania woman accused of unlawfully breaching the Capitol building and directing people to Pelosi's office.

 

The theft of electronic devices from congressional offices has been a persistent worry following the siege by supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump.

 

Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin said after the attack that some of the thefts might have potentially jeopardized what he described as “national security equities.”

 

According to the affidavit filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the FBI received a tip from someone who stated they were a former romantic partner of Williams.

 

The tipster said 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," the affidavit stated.

 

According to the tipster, "the transfer of the computer device to Russia fell through for unknown reasons and Williams still has the computer device or destroyed it," the affidavit stated. The investigation remains open.

 

Williams could not be reached for comment.

 

According to the FBI, it appears Williams has fled an address near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that she shared with her mother, deactivated her phone number, and took down social media accounts.

 

A Pelosi spokesman, Drew Hammill, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

Two days after the Capitol siege, Hammill said a laptop used for presentations was stolen from a conference room in Pelosi's office. It was unclear whether that device was the one Williams was accused of taking.

 

(Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Additional reporting by Brad Heath; Editing by Mary Milliken and Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-19

 

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[Tug 22,302]

Another traitor for trump hope they catch her and send her away for a very very long time 

[sirineou 17,899]

You gotta love these American Patriots. 

[Chomper Higgot 36,625]

Odd that this rightwing extremist thought it a good idea to try to sell the laptop to the Russians.

 

I wonder why the Russians?!

[mtls2005 16,369]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

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," the affidavit stated.

 

Uhm, can we send Riley June to Russia instead?

 

 

[tonray 13,819]

28 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Odd that this rightwing extremist thought it a good idea to try to sell the laptop to the Russians.

 

I wonder why the Russians?!

HIghest Bidder....Takes a lot of cash to support a movement so devoid of any real substance

[Jeffr2 9,871]

Just shows how unpatriotic these Trump supporters are.  They say they are, but their actions prove otherwise.

 

Lock her up for years.

[mtls2005 16,369]

6 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Lock her up for years.

 

Or at least as long as Reality Winner.

 

 

 

 

[bendejo 7,732]

A true gesture of patriotism. 

Should have approached Team Tr__p with her enemy intelligence, or at least the RNC.  Can't you just hear Don Jr saying "I love it!"  (his famous quote).  Or approach one of the media pitbulls like A Jones.

 

I'm trying to understand her thinking on this, can't figure any way it would play into something ideologically pro-US, so I'd guess it was strictly for $$$. 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

According to the tipster, "the transfer of the computer device to Russia fell through for unknown reasons and Williams still has the computer device or destroyed it," the affidavit stated. The investigation remains open.

 

Gotta wonder why Russia. 

Maybe she had actually been snared by a LE entity.

Or she could be a Sean Penn fan 

The Falcon and the Snowman

 

 

[2530Ubon 1,860]

Why did she bother? Trump's given them everything they need anyway. Putin himself said Trumps lips are rather supple.

[mtls2005 16,369]

10 minutes ago, 2530Ubon said:

Why did she bother?

 

She was trying to pull herself up by her own bootstraps?

 

 

[dddave 3,773]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Odd that this rightwing extremist thought it a good idea to try to sell the laptop to the Russians.

 

I wonder why the Russians?!

Free-Market Republican. Not very astute though.  Should have put it on E-Bay.  I'm sure the N. Koreans, Iranians and a few others would have submitted competitive bids.

[Guffman 68]

"may have" ,"intended to" There are no facts in this story, just somebody said that.....

[OneMoreFarang 27,472]

Maybe she should look at the news from time to time. Then she would know that (allegedly) the Russians hacked most of the US government computer networks in the last year. They really don't need another notebook with a few presentations.

[bendejo 7,732]

Didn't understand the Cold War and didn't know it's been over for 30 years.

 

Or maybe thought Russia was DT's friend, part of MAGA movement.

 

 

Edited January 19 by bendejo