Six Western Pennsylvanians charged for Capitol insurrection; state ranks second among total arrested

[TexasTowelie]

Even though Pennsylvanians voted to elect President Joe Biden in 2020, the state still has plenty of fervent supporters of Donald Trump. Just take a drive through many rural and exurban parts of the state, including many sections of Western Pennsylvania, and it’s easy to spot Trump signs still in yards, even after the election. (“Trump 2020: Make Liberals Cry Again” signs seem particularly popular.)

And it appears among those supporters are people so fervent, they were willing to break federal and local laws in the name of Trump.

So far, Pennsylvania has the second most residents charged in connection to January’s insurrection on the U.S. Capitol of any state in the country. Twenty Pennsylvanians have so far been charged with federal and local offenses, according to NPR’s tracker and news reports. Only Texas, with at least 23 residents charged, has more among U.S. states.

Of those 20 Pennsylvanians, six hail from Western Pennsylvania. All of the Western Pennsylvanians have been charged by federal law enforcement officials. They include:

• Peter Schwartz: Lives in Fayette County and is accused of spraying Capitol Police officers with mace.
• Rachel Powell: From Mercer County and was recognized on video wearing a pink hat and directing rioters through a bullhorn as they ransacked the seat of the U.S. government, according to federal law enforcement officials.
• Kenneth Grayson: From Bridgeville and was live-streaming himself participating in the insurrection, according to the FBI.
• Jordan Mink: From South Fayette Township and is accused using a baseball bat to break a window in the Capitol.
• Matthew Perna: From Sharon in Mercer County and is charged with entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct.
• Russell James Peterson: From Rochester in Beaver County and is charged with knowingly entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct, disruptive conduct in the Capitol Buildings, and other offenses.

Read more: https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/six-western-pennsylvanians-charged-for-capitol-insurrection-state-ranks-second-among-total-arrested/Content?oid=18931230