Source: United States Department of Justice News
WASHINGTON – A Pennsylvania woman was sentenced in the District of Columbia today on felony and misdemeanor charges related to her conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach. Her 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.
Sandra S. Weyer, 60, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg to 14 months in prison, 12 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and fines.
Weyer was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, as well as four misdemeanor charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disruptive conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, picketing, or demonstrating in a Capitol building, on June 6, 2023, following a bench trial before Chief Judge Boasberg.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Weyer traveled from Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, and was among the first rioters to enter the Capitol grounds by breaching police barricades on the East Front. During her time on the Capitol grounds, Weyer documented her activities in real-time via Facebook Live. In one video, Weyer encouraged others to “tear this s— down” in reference to the metal barricades set up by police. Weyer also stated that she “personally helped take down the barricades at the front of the Capitol” and that she was “laser-focused on breaking the barricades.”
After breaching the East Front barricades, Weyer paraded across the East Plaza to the bottom of the Central East Steps. Weyer and other rioters then marched up the Capitol steps and forcibly pushed and shoved their way toward the Rotunda Door. Once outside the Rotunda Door, Weyer commanded her fellow rioters to “hold your ground,” “charge,” “don’t retreat,” and “break that door.” After the door was breached, Weyer forced her way into the Capitol building, pushing past United States Capitol Police (USCP) officers.
Once inside the Capitol, Weyer went directly toward the Rotunda and declared, “This is awesome. We did it,” before making her way to the various hallways on the third floor near the House and Senate galleries. Weyer was in the Capitol building for approximately ten minutes. However, she remained on the Central East Steps for approximately an hour and fifteen minutes after exiting the building.
While outside on the Central East Steps, Weyer continued to video herself bragging about her exploits. She also responded in real-time videos to her social media followers, encouraging them to undertake similar illegal conduct at their local state Capitols.
Weyer was arrested on June 28, 2021, in Mechanicsburg.
This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
This case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Office’s Capital Area Resident Agency and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 32 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 396 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigations are ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.