A Sandy Lake, Pa., mother of eight is on trial in the nation’s capital this week, facing nine federal counts linked to her part in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach and riot at the U.S. Capitol building.

The bench trial of Rachel Powell, 41, began Tuesday before U.S. Judge Royce C. Lamberth of District of Columbia District Court.

Last month, Powell was named in a nine-count superseding indictment that charges her with civil disorder, obstruction of an official preceding, destruction of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building with a deadly or dangerous weapon, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building with a deadly or dangerous weapon, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building with a deadly or dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct in the Capitol, act of physical violence on Capitol grounds and parading demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol.

On May 3, her defense asked for and received permission from the judge to have a bench trial, waiving her right to a jury.

Last Friday, the judge ordered a one-day delay in the start of testimony because Powell’s attorney, Nicholas D. Smith, had asked for more time to prepare because he had just finished a federal criminal trial May 4.

The indictment accuses Powell of carrying an ice ax and a wooden pole into the Capitol as Congress was in the process of certifying the results of the November 2020 election in which President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump.

The indictment states Powell tried to obstruct, influence and / or impede the official proceeding, and she also is accused of damaging property — a window of the Capitol, causing more than $1,000 worth of damage.

Videos of the Jan. 6 riot identified Powell as the so-called “pink hat lady” and “bullhorn lady.”

An affidavit states Powell was seen using the bullhorn to give instructions about the layout of the Capitol building and instructing others on how to “take this building.”

Immediately after being first indicted in March 2021, Powell was under house arrest with condition that if she had to venture outside to work, she must obtain permission from a pretrial services officer of the court. If she was permitted to leave home, Powell’s whereabouts were monitored through a GPS tracker.

After being arraigned last month on the superseding indictment, Powell was released by Lamberth on a personal recognizance bond.

Nearly 900 people have faced federal charges in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

Included in this number is Champion resident Stephen Ayres, 40, who pleaded guilty June 8, 2022, as part of a plea agreement his lawyer reached with prosecutors. Ayres, who was placed on two years probation and paid $500 in restitution, agreed to plead guilty to count three of his indictment, a misdemeanor convicting him with disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restrictive building or grounds.

Ayers’ co-defendant, Matthew L. Perna, 37, of Sharpsville, Pa., had committed suicide shortly after pleading guilty to four charges connected to his presence in the Capitol on Jan. 6.