Northeast Ohio woman facing federal charges in riot at U.S. Capitol

A Willoughby woman is facing federal charges for her alleged participation in the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol.

Christine Priola, 49, is facing charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful entry; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and unlawful activities on Capitol grounds.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Priola, images circulating on numerous news media platforms showed a woman on Jan. 6 holding a sign that read, in part, “The Children Cry Out for Justice,” and pointing a cell phone at another person occupying the seat of the U.S. Vice President in the Senate chambers.

The woman in the photo was wearing a red winter coat and “distinctive pants” that appeared to have “Trump” and other words written on the legs.

On Jan. 8, the Cleveland Division of the FBI received an anonymous tip via Twitter that the woman in the photo was allegedly Priola. In the complaint, a U.S. Marshal stated Priola was identified by comparing photographs from the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway with photos taken Jan. 6.

A search warrant was executed on the evening of Jan. 8 at Priola’s Willoughby home. Law enforcement agents recovered a laptop computer, two desktop computers, several thumb drives, and an iPhone, according to the complaint.

Priola was arrested Jan. 13 and is facing charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, according to court records.

Priola was an occupational therapist in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Priola resigned from her job Jan. 7, according to her personnel file. Her resignation letter to the district references conspiracy theories.

Priola