Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 53
- Location
- Newport Beach, California
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; 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
Michelle Estey can be seen on video footage taken inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 wearing a pro-Trump beanie, according to federal prosecutors. Based on the room in which she was seen, prosecutors say, Estey had to have entered the building through a broken window. Court documents state that a tipster contacted the FBI and told investigators, "During a dinner with friends, . . . they revealed that their friend, Michelle Estey, was amongst the people that stormed and entered the Capitol Building on Jan 6th of this year." Estey was arrested on Sept. 23, 2022.
Case History
Estey pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 2/26/2024 to 36 months Probation; Special assessment of $10; restitution of $500; Fine of $2,000; 250 hours of community service. Estey 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.