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Authorities Concerned Riley Williams, Alleged Capitol Rioter Accused Of Stealing Nancy Pelosi's Laptop, May Destroy Evidence

PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) -- The Department of Justice says it's now concerned alleged Capitol rioter Riley Williams might destroy evidence. At a court hearing Monday, officials said that includes the possibility she may have, or could have, deleted online messages and accounts.

Prosecutors allege the 22-year old woman from Harrisburg was involved in the theft of a laptop from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office during the Jan. 6 riot and plotted to sell it to Russia.

Video from the riot shows a woman matching Williams' description exhorting invaders to go "upstairs, upstairs, upstairs" during the attack, which briefly disrupted certification of President Joe Biden's electoral victory.

In adding the theft-related charges on Tuesday, a Virginia-based FBI agent said Williams was recorded on closed-circuit cameras in the Capitol going into and coming out of Pelosi's office.

The agent's affidavit said a cellphone video that was likely shot by Williams shows a man's gloved hand lifting an HP laptop from a table, and the caption read, "they got the laptop."

Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, has said a laptop used only for presentations was taken from a conference room.

Williams is accused of theft, obstruction and trespassing, as well as violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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