'Pink hat lady' indicted on charges stemming from Capitol insurrection

A Mercer County woman charged with breaching the Capitol during riots there on Jan. 6 has been formally indicted.

A federal grand jury sitting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday returned eight counts against Rachel Powell, 40, of Sandy Lake, including obstruction; destruction of government property; entering a restricted building with a dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct with a dangerous weapon; engaging in physical violence with a dangerous weapon; committing an act of physical violence in the Capitol Grounds or buildings; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol Building.

A five-page indictment against Powell said she possessed an ice axe and a large wooden pole during the Capitol riots.

She was arrested via criminal complaint filed by the FBI in February.

Powell, who wore a distinctive pink hat during the insurrection, used the long wooden pole like a battering ram to break a window in the Capitol Building, according to investigators.

Then, an agent testified during a detention hearing, Powell used a bullhorn to motivate the people already inside the building and told them how to move throughout.

Powell was arrested a few days after giving an interview to The New Yorker magazine.

During the detention hearing, an FBI agent testified that investigators found two “go bags” in Powell’s home. One contained ammunition, rope and duct tape, while another had lighters, throwing stars and multiple knives.

Another was found in her car after Powell turned herself in to the FBI in New Castle. That bag contained a tarp, zip ties and two loaded AK-47 magazines.

No weapons were found.

Powell was released to home detention pending trial.