‘Pink Hat Lady’ placed on strict home confinement
A federal judge has adjusted the pretrial release of a Mercer County woman, known as “the pink hat lady,” to strict home confinement instead of GPS monitoring, according to court documents filed Tuesday.
Rachel Powell, 41, of Sandy Lake, faces charges stemming from what authorities allege was her involvement in the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Her nickname references a brightly colored hat that police allege she wore at the Capitol, where she was accused of trying to smash a window.
Last week, Powell was ordered to wear a GPS monitor while she is on pretrial release.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lambreth of the U.S. District of Columbia granted the government’s motion to amend the conditions of her release, saying Powell will not be permitted to leave her residence without the express advanced approval of her pretrial services officer.
Pretrial services has filed three reports against Powell. They allege she violated the conditions of her release, according to the government’s motion.
One alleged violation occurred in April 2021, when Powell livestreamed herself wearing a mesh mask made of pieces of string, in mockery of the court requiring her to wear a mask for community safety.
In the second alleged violation, she and her boyfriend went to a brewery during her work hours. Powell told the officer she went there for lunch.
In the third alleged violation, she left her home before her work window began. She told the officer that she was gardening and described it as a job duty.
Powell is facing eight charges in connection with the riot, which disrupted a joint session of Congress called to certify the Electoral College vote from the 2020 presidential election.
