SANDY LAKE, Pa. - A Mercer County woman charged in connection with the attack on the U.S. Capitol has been declared a danger to the community by a federal judge.

Rachel Powell, 40 appeared for a video hearing before a U.S. District Court on Tuesday after being charged earlier with obstruction, depredation of government property, violent entry and taking a dangerous weapon onto restricted property.

Although the court found that Powell is a danger to the community, the judge decided that she is not a flight risk and said she could be freed on a $10,000 bond while she waits for further court action. 

The court order would place Powell on home detention with permission to go to work, school, church and court appearances.  She would also be prohibited from having contact with others involved in the Capitol insurrection and cannot have a firearm.

However, at the request of government prosecutors, Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan stayed the release order until Wednesday evening, giving the U.S. Attorney an opportunity to file an appeal. 

An appeal was filed Wednesday, so Powell will not be released from custody. 

Powell was arrested earlier this month after FBI agents earlier searched her Sandy Lake home.

According to an affidavit, during national news coverage of the capitol riot, video footage showed a woman in a pink hat, a black jacket with a fur-lined hoodie using a bullhorn telling others how to gain control of the Capitol.

 

Investigators say they later identified the woman as Powell.

Once inside, the affidavit says Powell was seen using the bullhorn to give instructions about the layout of the building and instructing others on how to "take this building".

She also noted that they “have another window to break," according to the affidavit.

 

Investigators say Powell and another person were seen using a large pole to break a window, then climbing through the window.

 

 

The affidavit also says video shows Powell entering the Capitol through the West Lower Terrace Exterior Door along with a large number of people who forced Law Enforcement to retreat towards the inside of the building.

 

 The FBI says after it received a tip identifying Powell as the woman in the pink hat, they subpoenaed her Facebook account to compare pictures and verify her phone number.

 

Investigators also cited a  New Yorker online interview with Powell in which she is alleged to have told a reporter, “Listen,
if somebody doesn’t help and direct people, then do more people die?” and “That’s all I’m going
to say about that. I can’t say anymore. I need to talk to an attorney.”