Nhi Ngoc Mai Le

Case Summary

Nhi Mai Le first came to the attention of federal authorities when a tipster contacted the FBI to tell them that Le had allegedly posted photos of herself inside the U.S. Capitol on Facebook. When FBI agents interviewed her, Le initially denied entering the building, but the FBI recovered photos on her Facebook account that showed otherwise and she can also be seen on surveillance footage from inside the building that day, federal court records indicate. In a second interview with authorities, Le allegedly admitted to entering. In a Facebook post two days before the riot, Le wrote the following in Vietnamese: "A few years ago in Saigon, people took to the streets to protest ... At that time, no one in the Vietnamese press dared to report even though millions of people poured into the streets. Patriots are beaten. I was surprised but thinking about it, it’s a very normal thing in a communist country. But now the same thing is happening in the United States of America, my second home and paradise."

Case History

Le pleaded Guilty to two charges: Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds; and Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 2/26/2024 to 10 days incarceration; Fine of $1000; Restitution of $500; Special assessment of $20. Le 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.