Capitol Riot's Famous PA 'Pink Hat Lady' Sentenced To Prison

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Western Pennsylvania woman known as the "Pink Hat Lady," in the January 2021 Capitol riot was sentenced Tuesday to nearly five years in prison for her actions during the breach.

Rachel Marie Powell, 42, of Sandy Lake, Mercer County, was found guilty in a July bench trial of all nine charges against her. She will receive 57 months in prison; federal prosecutors had requested a sentence of eight years.

Powell was convicted of civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; destruction of government property; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

According to the government’s evidence, Powell was at the Capitol building and grounds during the riot wearing a pink hat, black jacket, and carrying a bullhorn. Powell was seen in multiple videos and photographs from that day using a bullhorn to instruct others how to further gain control of the Capitol. She also admitted to breaking a window at the Capitol.

Newsweek reported that during an interview on pillow manufacturer Mike Lindell's online "Lindell TV" program on Monday, Powell expressed surprise that prosecutors were asking for any prison sentence.

"I didn't go deep into the building, I didn't go into the Senate forum, I didn't go into anybody's offices," she said. "I don't understand why they're asking for as much as they are. It doesn't make any sense to me, because it was a mistake, and I'm sorry."