Jan. 6 Protester Caught on Camera Remarking About Shooting Nancy Pelosi Sentenced to 60 Days

Protesters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. A judge ruled on April 8, 2022, that the conspiracy case against 10 Oath Keepers will be split into two trials, one in July and the other in September. Jose Luis Magana, File/AP Photo

A woman who took part in protests at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, has been sentenced to 60 days in jail, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Dawn Bancroft was charged with offenses related to entering and remaining in the U.S. Capitol Building during the protests, which have often been described by legacy media outlets as an “insurrection.”

The protests took place during a joint session of the United States Congress that had been convened to certify the results of the 2020 general elections, which were disputed by former President Donald Trump and his supporters.

During this time, a large crowd gathered outside the Capitol building to protest the certification. The protests spilled over the permanent and temporary barricades with some people entering the Capitol building. Thousands of protesters, mostly peaceful, remained outside.

In an affidavit accompanying the DOJ’s criminal complaint, an FBI agent said that some individuals broke windows and assaulted police officers.

One protester, Ashli Babbitt was shot and killed by a U.S. Capitol police officer while inside the building. Another woman, Rosanne Boyland, was crushed and trampled when the crowd of protesters was pushed out of the tunnel, then repeatedly struck by police as she lay unconscious.

The FBI agent said the agency received a tip with a video purported to be filmed by Bancroft as she was attempting to exit the Capitol building, but was slowed by a bottleneck at the exit point.

“During the video, Bancroft stated, ‘We broke into the Capitol … we got inside, we did our part,” the FBI agent’s affidavit read. “Bancroft continued, ’We were looking for Nancy to shoot her in the [expletive] brain but we didn’t find her.”

The FBI agent believed Bancroft was referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Charges

According to the DOJ, Bancroft’s charges included entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

She previously entered a plea agreement on Sept. 28, 2021, and pleaded guilty to count four—the misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building (pdf).

The DOJ said Bancroft was sentenced to 60 days incarceration and will be on probation for three years. She will also have to complete 100 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution.

Bancroft received a lighter sentence than the maximum set out by the U.S. Code, which can be up to six months incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000, as well as interest on any late paid fines.

Arrests

More than 850 people have been arrested over criminal charges related to the protests at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021, including over 260 people who have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

Five deaths have been linked to the aftermath of the protests, most prominently the death of Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt who was determined to have died from homicide, having been shot and killed by U.S. Capitol police officer Lt. Michael L. Byrd.

Three other people died of what was ultimately determined to be natural causes, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick who died on Jan. 7, 2021. At first his injuries were attributed to protesters but was ultimately found to be due to a stroke.

The other two people were men in their 50s who died on Jan. 6 due to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Rosanne Boyland, who was in her 30s, was the fifth death. The D.C. medical examiner ruled her death as an accident from a drug overdose but video unsealed in December 2021 confirmed that Boyland was crushed and trampled when the crowd of protesters was pushed out of the tunnel, then repeatedly struck by police as she lay unconscious.

It is unclear how many protesters may have been injured as a result of police actions on the day.

Mimi Nguyen-ly contributed to this report.