Love may not conquer all for one married couple who split up after the wife was identified by investigators as someone who participated in the U.S. Capitol siege on Jan. 6.
Detective Michael Heinl, a 30-year member of the Shaler Township Police Department, filed for divorce from his wife, Jennifer, in February in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, according to records cited by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Shaler Township Police Chief Sean Frank told the outlet that Michael had asked Jennifer not to travel to Washington, D.C., on the day of the riot.
“His wife was a part of that situation,” Frank said. “He didn’t condone it. He didn’t ask her to go there. He wasn’t there. He was here working.”
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Jennifer Heinl, 55, told the FBI that she traveled to Washington, D.C., alone and participated in the “Stop the Steal” rally, where former President Donald Trump encouraged supporters to march to the Capitol building to protest the certification of the 2020 electoral votes, but she denied involvement in the storming of Capitol Hill, according to a statement of facts.
The woman also said she did not stay at the same hotel as a man identified as Kenneth Grayson, but she did acknowledge seeing him at the rally. Officials who reviewed Grayson’s Facebook page say they found communications between Heinl and Grayson from Nov. 12, 2020, to Jan. 11 of this year, including discussions of logistics of a trip to Washington.
Despite her denial, federal investigators say there is probable cause to believe Heinl was at the U.S. Capitol.
The FBI said a witness who has known Heinl for a little over a year was shown four photos, including one appearing to show Heinl standing next to a man with his arm around her, and provided positive identification of her. And agents reviewing security footage from inside the Capitol Rotunda saw Heinl wearing a red, long-sleeved jersey that said “Trump 20” on the back and a black hat with lettering on the front.
Heinl is now facing federal charges, including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building for her alleged involvement in the insurrection.
Frank, who said it was likely that the husband did not know she entered the Capitol building, confirmed his knowledge of some aspects of the Heinl’s divorce proceedings in an email to the Washington Examiner.
“I am aware that Detective Heinl filed for divorce and that he disagrees with her actions on January 6, 2021,” he wrote.
Grayson was arrested on Jan. 26 on charges of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building; disorderly conduct impeding government business; disruptive conduct in the Capitol building; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the Capitol; and obstructing an official proceeding.
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Jennifer Heinl is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
Representatives for the FBI, Pennsylvania’s court system, and Martin Dietz, Jennifer Heinl’s attorney, did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for relevant documents.
