Arkansas man who propped his feet on Nancy Pelosi’s desk found guilty for role in Capitol protest

An Arkansas man who propped his toes up on a desk in then-Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s workplace in the course of the U.S. Capitol riot was convicted on Monday of becoming a member of a mob’s assault on the constructing two years in the past.

A jury unanimously convicted Richard “Bigo” Barnett on all eight counts in his indictment together with felony expenses of civil dysfunction and obstruction of an official continuing.

Barnett lounging at a desk in Pelosi’s workplace made him one of the vital memorable figures from the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, the day when Congress convened a joint session to certify President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in Could. Prosecutors sought to jail Barnett whereas he awaits sentencing however the choose denied that request so Barnett will stay free on sure situations.

Barnett, 62, testified final Thursday that he was searching for a rest room contained in the Capitol when he unwittingly entered Pelosi’s workplace and encountered two information photographers. He mentioned one of many photographers advised him to “act pure,” so he leaned again in a chair and flung his legs onto the desk.

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“Did it daybreak on you that what you have been doing may trigger some hassle?” protection lawyer Joseph McBride requested Barnett.

“I used to be simply within the second,” Barnett replied. “I’m simply sort of going with the stream at this level.”

Prosecutors mentioned Barnett had a stun gun tucked into his pants when he stormed the Capitol and invaded Pelosi’s workplace. He took a chunk of her mail and left behind a word that mentioned, “Nancy, Bigo was right here,” punctuating the message with a sexist expletive.

Earlier than leaving Capitol grounds, Barnett used a bullhorn to provide a speech to the gang, shouting, “We took again our home, and I took Nancy Pelosi’s workplace!” in keeping with prosecutors.

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Movies help Barnett’s testimony {that a} crowd pushed him into the Capitol as he approached an entrance, inflicting him to briefly fall to his knees as he crossed the edge.

“We now have no alternative!” he shouted repeatedly as he entered the Capitol.

After police ordered him and others to go away Pelosi’s workplace, Barnett realized he had left his American flag behind. Physique digital camera video captured Barnett shouting at a police officer within the Rotunda for assist in retrieving the flag.

Greater than 940 individuals have been charged with federal crimes associated to the Jan.6 assault. Practically 500 of them have pleaded responsible. Barnett is one among a number of dozen Capitol riot defendants whose case has gone to trial.

A grand jury indicted Barnett on eight expenses, together with felony counts of civil dysfunction and obstruction of an official continuing. He additionally faces a cost of getting into and remaining in restricted constructing or grounds with a lethal or harmful weapon — a stun gun with spikes hid inside a collapsible strolling stick.

Barnett, 62, is a retired firefighter from Gravette, Arkansas. He mentioned he regrets coming to Washington for the “Cease the Steal” rally the place then-President Donald Trump addressed a crowd of supporters.

“Two years of misplaced life. Distress for my household,” he mentioned.

A prosecutor advised jurors in the course of the trial’s opening statements that Barnett deliberate the journey for weeks and got here ready for violence.

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McBride advised jurors that Barnett was only a “loopy man from Arkansas” who didn’t damage anyone on Jan. 6 and couldn’t have harmed anyone with the stun gun system as a result of it was damaged that day. McBride sarcastically referred to as it “probably the most well-known trespass case of all time.”

Prosecutors mentioned Barnett had a historical past of arming himself at political demonstrations. In July 2020, they mentioned, a 911 caller reported {that a} man matching Barnett’s description had pointed a rifle at her throughout a “Again the Blue” rally.

“Legislation enforcement finally closed the investigation as unfounded resulting from unresolved obvious discrepancies within the proof,” prosecutors wrote.

In November 2020, police have been referred to as to a “Save the Youngsters” rally when a caller mentioned Barnett was carrying a gun on the protest and appearing suspiciously.