Volumes of video recordings and photographs showcase hundreds of people clamoring up exterior walls and through hallowed halls of our nation’s Capitol. They depict intruders’ use of tools like make-shift battering rams or hatchets to shatter windows as they attempted to gain entry to locked rooms amid chaos.

Still, frequent cries come from some claiming the Jan. 6, 2021, attack somehow was staged or invited. Many who believe the 2020 presidential election was stolen argue these people did only what they thought was right in a wholly patriotic way.

Until now, I’ve largely avoided commenting in this space about that horrible day in America that, undeniably, our children and grandchildren will read about in their high school history classes decades from now.

But after taking time this week to read the 40-page sentencing memorandum for Rachel Marie Powell, 41, a Mercer County, Pa., woman sentenced last week to serve 57 months in federal prison for her Jan. 6 role, I thought I would share some snippets of what it says.

• “The defendant, Rachel Powell, was an active and enthusiastic participant in the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol — a violent attack that forced an interruption of the certification of the 2020 Electoral College vote count, threatened the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 Presidential election, injured more than one hundred police officers, and resulted in more than 2.9 million dollars in losses.”

• “On Nov. 4, 2020, the day after Election Day, Powell encouraged others to ‘actively do something’ about election results: ‘And now so many of you are complaining on social media about probable fraud in the voting system? You can’t complain! Not even one of you that has been complacent should open your mouths! Hang your head in shame and shut your face unless you are going to actively do something. The government knows exactly how far you can be pushed because the population has been successfully tested. They know 99.9% of the people will roll over, belly up, like a bunch of cowards.'”

• Her Nov. 15 Facebook post: “So, I’m still in D.C., but last night I met with some people, and I think we have a reasonably good plan: if Trump concedes — or does not concede, I’m sorry — then if it gets through the courts and the courts agree with him, then it’ll have to go to the House to be voted on, to see whether or not he gets to stay President. So, if we can simply determine who those people are, that would cast their vote for him, and call them and talk to them, the ones that are not making the correct decision for the people, instead of having protests in Washington, D.C., we’ll take it to their homes.”

• On Jan. 6, Powell first attended former President Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally before joining other rioters at the Peace Circle. Powell “pushed against barricades with her body as she encouraged other rioters to join her. Powell waved rioters forward while shouting, ‘Come on up people, don’t be shy!'”

• “When officers finally retreated from the area by climbing up to the Lower West Terrace (LWT), Powell cheered with other rioters, shouting, ‘Whose house? Our house!’ At 2:40 p.m., Powell followed the retreating police and climbed a narrow stairwell to the LWT.”

• Inside, “Powell repeatedly struck the window with an ice axe in her attempt to create an entryway.”

• “Using a bullhorn, Powell described what she had learned about HT-2, and encouraged other rioters to enter HT-2, break the glass floor, and enter further into the Capitol building.”

• On Jan. 7, she posted on social media: “we have given you all a chance to help us settle this peacefully. We have been patient. The time is up.”

• Also on Jan. 7 she posted: “there were lots of security. They had to retreat into the building and fight back because patriots were relentless” and “they didn’t open the gates. The people trampled them. It was war.”

To read Powell’s complete sentencing memorandum, go to www.vindy.com and click the link provided with this

story.

Sentencing memorandum for Rachel Powell