Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 20
- Location
- Elberton, Georgia
- 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
Savannah McDonald and Nolan Kidd allegedly traveled together to Washington, D.C., the day before the assault on the U.S. Capitol. According to court documents, they can be seen in many of the most familiar photos of Jan. 6, 2021, -- near the man who became known as the “QAnon Shaman.” On Jan. 14, 2021, the FBI received a tip that McDonald had been inside the Capitol building and then interviewed her at her home days later. Court documents say that when she was shown a picture from the riot, McDonald acknowledged that the person circled in it was her. A photo returned from a search of Kidd’s phone shows pictures of the two smiling for the camera. In a video posted by the Young Patriot Society and credited to Kidd, McDonald allegedly can be seen with Kidd, confirming they were “part of the first 100 people to enter the Capitol.” Agents also reviewed video footage of Kidd and McDonald heading to the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol, with McDonald holding a sign above her head reading, “If the dead can vote just wait and see what the living can do,” court documents say. Kidd and McDonald, along with a group of rioters, allegedly pushed through a line of law enforcement and headed into the building through a fire door. A search warrant for a Snapchat account McDonald claimed was hers returned images of a group video chat in which McDonald reportedly says, “I’m the only girl that made it into the Senate.”
Case History
McDonald pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 5/10/2022 to 21 days of incarceration; $10 Special Assessment; Restitution of $500. McDonald 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 - Supporting Reporting
NPR video evidence pageNPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.