Meghan Rutledge

Case Summary

Meghan Rutledge and her father, Willard Thomas Bostic Jr., breached the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, federal prosecutors allege. According to charging documents filed in court, investigators were tipped off to Rutledge's alleged involvement by two people who knew Rutledge and had seen her post photos to Facebook from in and around the Capitol that day. "After miles and miles of walking and climbing and climbing some more we made it inside the capitol building," Rutledge allegedly wrote. "What an experience for the books." Federal investigators also used surveillance footage to identify Rutledge among the mob inside the building, according to an FBI agent's statement of facts in the case. Those investigators also allegedly found evidence that Bostic, Rutledge's father, had communciated by phone, "with an individual who coordinated convoys, communication plans, maps and packing lists for individuals planning to participate in the events on Jan. 6, 2021. On the packing list provided by the protest organizer, the following items were recommended: ASP baton, body armor, helmets and portable chargers." Both Rutledge and Bostic were arrested on Oct. 13, 2021.

Case History

Rutledge pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 3/31/2023 to 3 years probation; 90 days home confinement; 60 hours of community service; $500 restitution; $10 special assessment. Rutledge 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.