Florida opera singer criminally charged for role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

An opera singer who once played Carnegie Hall participated in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, where she attacked a federal police officer with a flag pole, federal authorities said this week.

Audrey Ann Southard, 52, of Spring Hill, Florida, was charged Tuesday with a host of offenses, including assault on a federal officer, after she was captured on video yelling, “Tell Pelosi, we are coming for that b—-,” according to an affidavit supporting her arrest.

Southard’s alleged role at the Capitol, where protesters egged on by then-President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of election fraud tried to overturn the 2020 election results, occurred on a remarkably different stage than the one she graced seven-and-a-half years earlier.

The soprano performed at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, one of the classical music world’s most revered venues, on May 2, 2013, records showed and a spokeswoman for the concert hall said Friday.

Southard performed that day with Finnish pianist Liisa Pimia, concert hall records showed. A critic said her performance was “attractive, unforced,” adding, “I was glad to hear this fine singer moving ahead in her artistry.”

Southard made it to the famous stage with performances the previous year in the Ibla Grand Prize Bellini International Vocal Competition. It was unclear where Southard’s career went after Carnegie Hall.

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