Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 55
- Location
- Kansas
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building; Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Esther Schwemmer, federal prosecutors allege, breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and can be seen in video footage from multiple floors inside the building. According to court documents, Schwemmer gave a voluntary interview to federal investigators in which she said she attended the Trump rally that day before heading toward the Capitol. There, she allegedly climbed a tree to take a photo of the crowd of pro-Trump protesters. She allegedly told investigators she saw the doors to the building open and entered along with a friend, Jennifer Ruth Parks, and encountered no resistance from police. Schwemmer said that when a police officer told her to exit the building, she did so, the charging documents said.
Case History
Schwemmer pleaded Guilty to charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced 1/10/2022 to 2 years of probation; $500 restitution; and $10 special assessment; 60 hours of community service. Schwemmer received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.