Army Officer Emily Rainey Under Investigation for Role in Capitol Riot

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Jan 12, 2021 06:28 AM EST

Emily Rainey, an Army captain, is currently under investigation for joining last week's rally and the subsequent riot at the U.S. Capitol in an effort to disrupt the Electoral College votes certification, an Army spokesperson said.

Army spokesperson Major Dan Lessard said Capt. Emily Rainey is under investigation for leading members of a conservative advocacy group from North Carolina to join the rally and stand against the alleged election fraud, NBC News reported.

Rainey is a 30-year-old psychological operations officer stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

"We are aware of her presence at the event and we are investigating her involvement to determine the exact extent," Lessard said in the report.

He noted that it is still unknown if Emily Rainey violated any laws or regulations by attending and participating in the event. He added that there is no evidence yet if any other service members joined Rainey.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth asked acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller on Monday to allow military criminal investigators to join law enforcement officials in identifying if troops or veterans took part in the alleged insurrection.

The Pentagon has acknowledged receiving Duckworth's letter regarding the matter, according to a USA Today report.

"Our Nation must demonstrate resolve and resilience in bringing the neo-Nazis, white supremacists and conspiracy theorists who formed this mob to justice," Duckworth said in a report.

Duckworth added that this includes addressing deeply troubling reports that members of the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans took part in the riot.

Not the First Time for Emily Rainey to Be Investigated

Reports said that this was not the first time Rainey's actions have been investigated after she posted a video online of her pulling down caution tape at a playground closed under North Carolina's COVID-19 restrictions.

Police in Southern Pines charged Emily Rainey with injury to personal property, according to a U.S. News report. Police said they warned her twice before she entirely tore down the tape that closed the playground due to the pandemic.

According to the Army spokesman, the Army gave her appropriate administrative action for the incident, and she submitted her resignation in September. Lessard added that the resignation process for an officer could take months or more. Emily Rainey was scheduled to be out in the Army in April.

U.S. military members are permitted to take part in political organizations and events out of uniform. But the Department of Defense (DOD) said there are exceptions to the rule, like sponsoring partisan organizations while being in service.

It is still unclear if the Army officer's participation with her group violated the DOD policy.

Meanwhile, Rainey argued she attended the Trump rally while on leave, adding that she did not advertise that she was an Army officer. She said that she told her bosses ahead of time that she would be participating.

Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died during the Capitol riot.