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Left: Rebecca Lavrenz at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 (Department of Justice). Right: Rebecca Lavrenz speaking to a Capitol police officer (DOJ).
A Jan. 6 rioter who promotes herself online as the “J6 praying grandma” will be allowed to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration so she can watch her daughter — who is the deputy director of the swearing-in ceremony — set up the stage and perform other “supervisory” tasks, court documents show.
Rebecca Lavrenz, a Colorado resident who runs a bed-and-breakfast, was sentenced in August to serve six months of home confinement for her actions on Jan. 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol. She isn’t accused of committing any violence or attacking any officers that day, but she was charged with multiple federal misdemeanors for illegally entering through the East Rotunda doors and remaining inside the Capitol for at least 10 minutes. A jury ultimately convicted her of entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol.
On Thursday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui granted Lavrenz’s request to change her probation conditions in order to attend the inauguration — in which her daughter, Laura Lavrenz, apparently plays a significant role.
“Laura Lavrenz’ duties include organizing, staging, and facilitating the swearing in ceremony for Donald J. Trump,” wrote Rebecca Lavrenz’s attorney John M. Pierce in a Jan. 15 motion to modify rioter his client’s probation conditions.
Although Faruqui granted the request, he had previously relayed his serious concerns about the defendant’s actions.
“It’s still a grave offense,” Faruqui had said to Rebecca Lavrenz at her sentencing, according to Washington NBC affiliate WRC.
Rebecca Lavrenz, who was 72 at the time of sentencing, was called out by Faruqui for voicing her disapproval online with the court system and ongoing Jan. 6 criminal cases. She was also blasted for “profiting off the celebrity of her conviction” with media appearances.
“That does nothing but reduce public confidence people have in the system,” Faruqui said. But he didn’t believe sending the elder Lavrenz to a federal prison “was going to help,” according to WRC.
Instead of the recommended 10 month sentence by the DOJ, Faruqui gave Rebecca Lavrenz a year of probation and a fine of $103,000 due to her “egregious conduct,” WRC reports. He ordered her to serve the first six months of her sentence in home confinement and asked her to stay off the internet.
On Jan. 15, Pierce filed the motion to modify the conditions of Rebecca Lavrenz’ probation so she could attend Trump’s inauguration. Other defendants have been doing the same, with some being approved — but most getting denied.
“Ms. Lavrenz’ daughter, Laura Lavrenz, has been a staff worker and supervisor for the Trump Campaign throughout 2024,” the motion said. “Laura has worked on staging, coordinating, and helping organize Trump campaign events, speeches, and rallies. Most recently, Ms. Lavrenz’ daughter has been given more supervisory roles. At the inauguration, Laura Lavrenz is the deputy director of the swearing-in ceremony. Laura Lavrenz’ duties include organizing, staging, and facilitating the swearing in ceremony for Donald J. Trump.”
According to Pierce, “this will be a significant moment for the Lavrenz family,” leading to Rebecca Lavrenz’ request.
DOJ prosecutors said in a follow-up filing that they had no problem approving it after speaking to Lavrenz’ probation officer in Colorado and hearing how she’s been well-behaved.
“Based on the facts recounted in Lavrenz’ motion, the United States does not oppose the motion,” the DOJ said in a Jan. 15 response motion. “Undersigned counsel contacted the U.S. Probation Officer in the District of Colorado assigned to supervise Lavrenz to obtain the officer’s position on the motion. The probation officer stated: ‘Ms. Lavrenz has been complaint while on supervision with no issues or concerns, however, she is on home detention until 2/22/2025.””
In addition to Lavrenz’ daughter working for Trump, the “praying grandma” has also been highlighted by the president-elect in social media posts — saying she was “unfairly targeted,” according to the Washington Post.
Trump has promised to pardon Jan. 6 rioters once in office, saying in interviews that both violent and peaceful protesters “had no choice” but to act out that day in response to the 2020 election results.
Last week, Vice President-elect JD Vance provided the clearest explanation yet of the Trump administration‘s actual pardon plans, telling “Fox News Sunday” that those who committed violence during the Capitol attack “obviously” shouldn’t be pardoned. Those who protested “peacefully,” however, can expect to have their records wiped clean.
More from Law&Crime: ‘I will refuse a pardon from felon Trump!’: Jan. 6 rioter says she doesn’t want record wiped clean after being ‘bullied by MAGA’ for showing remorse
“I think it’s very simple,” the former Ohio senator said. “If you protested peacefully on Jan. 6 and you’ve had Merrick Garland’s Department of Justice treat you like a gang member, you should be pardoned. If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned.”
Lavrenz has said that she wouldn’t accept a pardon from the Trump administration due to the fact that she’s appealing her case and wants a precedent-setting win, according to The Gazette newspaper in Colorado, which would ultimately be negated by a pardon.
“The purpose is to do something for our country,” Lavrenz told the Gazette. “This would be in the best interest of our country.”
