Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 69
- Location
- San Clemente, California
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building; Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
The FBI began looking into Lois McNicoll after receiving a tip from a work colleague who recognized her in a social media photo about the U.S. Capitol insurrection, court documents indicate. In images presented by federal law enforcement, McNicoll can allegedly be seen on CCTV surveillance video taking photos or video from inside the Capitol with her cellphone. The surveillance footage also shows that she wore a flag on her shoulders -- a variation of the California state flag with the words "Trump Country" on it. The FBI interviewed McNicoll at her workplace in May of 2021, and she allegedly told them that she had been inside the Capitol after the doors had been forced open by others. She claims not to have taken photos or videos while inside the Capitol, which is inconsistent with surveillance footage, the FBI said.
Case History
McNicoll pleaded Guilty to Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced 9/6/2022 to 24 Months of Probation with conditions; Special Assessment: $10; Restitution: $500; 80 hours of community service. McNicoll 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.