PA woman arrested for Capitol riots: ‘We are an Army of Patriots’

September 10, 2021 qanon

An Allentown woman, arrested for entering the U.S. Capitol during rioting on Jan. 6, espoused QAnon conspiracy theories in her social media, according to the FBI.

Kelly O’Brien’s prolific writing about then-President Donald Trump and the “patriots” who were fighting for his second term fill a 16-page criminal complaint filed against her by the FBI.

She is the 55th person from Pennsylvania arrested for involvement in the U.S. Capitol rioting.

Among her social media posts, she had a conversation on Jan. 8 with someone about Trump not conceding to the recently elected Joe Biden. Among her comments, she said: “Everything is happening according to Q plan. So scared.”

Kelly O'Brien, circled in red in this photo, is an Allentown woman, now charged with entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. According to the FBI, she espoused QAnon beliefs on the social media accounts.

QAnon is a “sprawling, discredited, anti-establishment conspiracy theory that originated in online message boards by an anonymous individual known as ‘Q,’” the FBI wrote in O’Brien’s criminal complaint. “Central to the QAnon conspiracy theory is the false belief that the world is run by a cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles and child-traffickers (allegedly largely comprised of prominent Democratic politicians, so-called ‘Deep State’ government employees, journalists and Hollywood elite) and that former President Trump is secretly working with Q and others to take down the cabal.”

The New York Times wrote last week: “A terrorism bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security in late January warned of increasing violence from domestic extremist groups, including conspiracy theory communities like QAnon.”

In the weeks leading up to Jan. 6, O’Brien posted many messages like this one on social media, dated Dec. 19, 2020, according to the FBI: “WE ARE IN A BATTLE between GOOD and evil. Make no mistake about that. Elders are cheering us on and believe that WE ARE GOING TO BE THE GREATEST GENERATION in their lifetime. And they lived through WWII. Are you going to fight or are you weak. Let us know now. WE NEED PATRIOTS! WE NEED FREEDOM FIGHTERS! Now!”

O’Brien allegedly posted videos outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to tips offered to the FBI by one of her Facebook connections. In one, O’Brien is narrating a video under the inauguration scaffolding, saying, “We’re getting gassed and rubber bullets. We’re under Joe fake Biden Inaugural steps that he was supposed to be the fake president in,” according to the FBI.

Standing with her, according to the FBI, was Jacob Angeli, also known as QAnon Shaman, a well-known conspiracy theorist. He has already been arrested by the FBI for his alleged involvement on Jan. 6.

Based on videos inside the Capitol, the FBI was able to identify O’Brien walking through the building. On Jan. 7, she wrote on Facebook: “Had to scrub my page, for obvious reasons.”

She has been charged with: Entering a restricted building; intending to impede or disrupt official government business; and disorderly or disruptive conduct in the Capitol.

More:Who is the Pennsylvania man speaking for MIA attorney of Capitol insurrection defendants?

More:Lancaster County man charged with assaulting police officers during Jan. 6 riot in D.C.

Kim Strong can be reached at kstrong@gannett.com.

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