Defendant Allegedly Carried Multiple Weapons into Capitol Building Including a Short Sword, Whip, and Collapsible Baton
WASHINGTON — Two women from California made their initial appearances before the District Court for the District of Columbia on multiple charges related to their actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Kennedy Lindsey, 29, of North Hollywood, California, is charged in a criminal complaint with felony offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and carrying or having a firearm, a dangerous weapon or explosives on the grounds or in any of the Capitol buildings. In addition to the felonies, Lindsey is charged with misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct in a capitol building or grounds and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Dianelle Lacy, 46, of Malibu, California, was also arrested and charged with four misdemeanor offenses, including 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 or grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Both defendants were arrested on July 28, 2024. The were released following a court appearance today.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Lindsey and Lacy traveled from Southern California to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal Rally” at the Ellipse. Upon their arrival, the two attended the rally and later made their way toward the U.S. Capitol building. Court documents say that Lindsey recorded videos of the events that day with her cell phone, including one such video in which she exclaimed, “the Capitol building is being stormed as we speak. We’re on our way there. . . God Bless America m—f—, let's go.”
The two were then seen in open-source video footage approaching the Capitol on a golf cart, while another rider encouraged the crowd to breach the building.
Lindsey and Lacy then made their way to the Inaugural Stage on the West Front, where rioters had overrun police defenses. By 3:30 p.m., the two women were at the Senate Wing Door, as alarms were blaring, and rioters were exiting the building through broken windows. Surveillance footage captured both women entering the Capitol, Lindsey through a broken window and Lacy through the door. Inside, Lindsey filmed videos in which she observed the presence of pepper spray and riot police. The two exited the building at about 3:36 p.m. while Lindsey continued recording the aftermath.
Further, according to court documents, at about 5:25 p.m., a United States Secret Service (USSS) officer noticed Lindsey’s suspicious behavior near the Presidential Transition Office, where she was seen carrying a large metal pole. The USSS officer approached Lindsey and observed a weapon strapped to Lindsey’s leg that Lindsey described to the officer as a “short sword.” Lindsey informed the officer that she was carrying other weapons as well. The officer discovered multiple weapons on her person, including a short sword, a tactical whip, a collapsible baton, pepper spray, a butterfly knife, and a flashlight taser.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Secret Service.
In the 43 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.