A Tarrant County lady pleaded responsible Thursday to a federal cost for her participation within the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol.
Katherine “Katie” Stavely Schwab, 34, admitted to partaking in disruptive or disorderly conduct in a restricted constructing or grounds, which is punishable by as much as one yr in jail and a $100,000 positive, in keeping with court docket information. Her sentencing is scheduled for December.
Schwab’s lawyer didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Schwab, a Colleyville actual property agent, flew to Washington, D.C., final yr together with Frisco actual property agent Jason Lee Hyland and Frisco actual property dealer Jennifer “Jenna” Ryan on a non-public jet chartered by Hyland. Authorities say Schwab and Hyland, 39, started a relationship round that point.
In keeping with court docket paperwork, Schwab despatched a message to Hyland two days earlier than the riot saying, “Now we have to cease the steal,” and that she was keen to face her floor to defend her rights.
In Washington, the group went to a rally close to the White Home and listened to a number of audio system earlier than returning to their lodge. After watching information protection of the Capitol breach, they took an Uber again to the Capitol.
Schwab was the primary of the three to enter the constructing, plea papers say.
Schwab stated she was pushed by the crowds by means of the doorways and right into a foyer. She instructed the FBI she felt crushed by the crowds earlier than being assisted by a Capitol Police officer out of the constructing.
Video footage from her and Hyland’s telephones embrace recordings of Schwab calling U.S. Capitol Police “traitors,” “sheep” and “pathetic,” plea paperwork stated.
Earlier than leaving the Capitol grounds, Schwab joined a crowd attacking media tools at a press enclosure, kicking and throwing gadgets, authorities stated.
Again on the lodge, Schwab criticized media protection of the revolt, saying in a Fb Reside video, “There was no vandalism. All we did was push the doorways open,” court docket paperwork say.
Schwab had additionally confronted prices of willfully and knowingly partaking in an act of bodily violence; knowingly coming into or remaining in any restricted constructing or grounds; violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol constructing; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol constructing. These prices had been dropped as a part of the plea settlement.
Hyland was sentenced this month to seven days in jail after pleading responsible in March to a misdemeanor rely of parading, demonstrating or picketing within the Capitol constructing. Ryan pleaded responsible in August 2021 to the identical cost and was sentenced to 60 days in jail.
In keeping with the George Washington College Program on Extremism venture, 72 defendants from Texas face federal prices associated to the riot, the second-most of any state, after Florida.