Richard Barnett, Man Seen Sitting at Nancy Pelosi's Desk, Arrested in Arkansas
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Richard Barnett, Man Seen Sitting at Nancy Pelosi's Desk, Arrested in Arkansas
Richard Barnett, the man who was photographed sitting at Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk during Wednesday's riot at the Capitol, was arrested and faces multiple charges.
© Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Richard Barnett was arrested in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Friday morning. Barnett, a supporter of US President Donald Trump sits inside the office of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as he protest inside the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. -
Kevin Daley, a reporter for The Washington Free Beacon, tweeted that the Justice Department announced Barnett's arrest in Little Rock, Arkansas, during a press call on Friday. Barnett was photographed sitting in Pelosi's chair with his foot on her desk.
Barnett, 60, faces charges of entering and remaining on restricted grounds, violent entry and theft of public property, according to NBC News.
He's one of at least 26 people sought by the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department, which offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to their arrest and indictment.
Ahead of his arrest, Barnett told Arkansas TV station KFSM he had traveled to Washington, D.C., to hear President Donald Trump speak, adding that the "crowds were unbelievable." By the time he reached the top of the Capitol steps, he said, the protesters had breached the doors and was trying to get inside.
He admitted to participating in the riot inside the building but said he was pushed into the building when the mob broke through the doors.
"I threw my feet up on the desk at that point. I realized some a**holes had cut me also and I bled on her envelope, so I picked up the envelope and put it in my pocket, and I put a quarter on the desk 'cause I'm not a thief," Barnett told KFSM.
Barnett also told the TV station that "hell no," he wasn't "scared" about the possibility that he might face federal charges for entering Pelosi's office. But he rejected the idea that had done "anything," saying he was "walking around looking for a bathroom."
Along with Barnett, West Virginia Delegate Derrick Evans was arrested and charged in connection with the rioting on Friday, according to NBC News. Evans has rejected calls for him to resign from his position and his attorney offered a similar story to Barnett's.
"Given the sheer size of the group walking in, Evans had no choice but to enter," attorney John H. Bryan said. "Evans continued to film once inside. His footage showed that members of the public were already inside the Capitol by the time he entered. Evans' footage shows no riotous behavior taking place at that time. Protesters can be seen calmly walking around."
His peers in the West Virginia legislature have called for him to be removed from office and Republican Delegate Steve Wetsfall told WMOV Radio there could be a vote to remove him from his position.
"I believe the first order of business after [selecting leadership] is there will be a motion made to remove Derrick Evans as a member of the House. And there'll be debate on it up and down, and there'll be a vote," he said. "If there is a vote, I will vote to remove him. I just think he let us all down. He made us look bad."
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That didn't take long....... Dumbass!
From Arkansas and a Trump supporter. That explains a lot.
Could he use those as a defense at his trial..... you know.... like a personal handicap?
Maybe he'll be "smart" enough to try, lol
I keep telling folk and I keep telling folk to keep their masks on in public. It's unhealthy not to.
Ya gotta love the irony.
I was just watching something about these morons on Colbert, these dimbulbs are providing all the evidence needed for their trials.
Richard Bigo Barnett bragged to the NY Times - the one at Pelosi's desk
That dumb bitch that was whining that she was maced - when asked why she was there - "because we're storming the Capitol - it's a revolution"
That delegate from Virginia - yelled out his name - Derrick Evans is in the Capitol!
Brilliant!
Now, will come every excuse in the world.
He was looking for the Men's head....? Oh, excuse me Kavika.... The Latrine!
He will meet many men's "heads" in prison.
One is suppose to get smarter as they get older. This guy was sixty years of age. Looks like there is a limit to age induced common sense.
There are 26 restrooms located in the Capitol Visitor Center. (This compares with five public restrooms in the Capitol.) The Visitor Center has 10 family restrooms as well. Yet he claimed to be looking for one. This guy could not find his own ass with both hands and a guide.
I've always appreciated your detailed approach Paula!
Gee, they broke the outer office windows to gain access to the office
and his hand is cut ? Miraculous coincidence? I think not.
I wonder if that is one of the ways they ID'd him...DNA from the blood he left breaking in.
I think they ID'd him from the photo he took with Rudy Giuliani.
Give that idiot the maximum sentence for every applicable charge, with luck he will die in prison.
Didn't Trump sign an executive order last summer about maximum sentencing for those convicted of damaging federal property......
Yes.
the irony.......POTUS wanted to hammer people 10 years for graffiti on statues....
now that EO is going to bite his "supporters" in the ass.
As it should. People make their own decisions.
Where is the Nazi in the Camp Auschwitz hoodie? It looks like he may have been co-ordinating activities.
I'm betting this is one of those that escaped from the FEMA reeducation camps located under various Walmarts across the country.....
He can be accomodated at Guantanamo.
Hopefully, after all the arrests, convictions and prison time, everyone on both sides of the political divide will give more thought to their actions. It would be a nice trend if anyone, anywhere, gets the same treatment for using violence in their protests, whether it be setting a dumpster on fire or invading the capital.
Agreed
Disagree, big difference between yanking the Mens room sign off of a Home Depot restroom
and destroying handmade signs for Congressmen and Senators especially in a partisan attack.
JMHO
Okay, but here's the problem with that. Where's the line? At what point do you say it's too far? Seems a lot simpler, and more fair, simply not draw the line in the first place and prosecute it all. Why should we consider the men's room sign okay, but not the congressmen's? Neither is the property of the vandal. Isn't that what should matter?
The furniture is important... but... not essential. Even the stolen papers and computers... possibly confidential.
Congress was in session! Our Representatives and Senators had to be hustled to safe areas. Leader McConnell and Speaker Pelosi had to be evacuated. This was an attack on our government.
yeah. That argument over the difference always takes me back to my early years. As part of my training as a security guard (easy job while I was in college) from the local police, we were asked what was the difference between stealing $1 million and a 25 cent candy bar. The correct answer was that there was no difference. Stealing is wrong no matter what you steal. Vandalism is wrong no matter what is being destroyed.
And yet a judge and/or jury will rarely make that assessment.
Not OK, but the attack on the Capital and our police was not vandalism. This was insurrection.
There are always scales, steps or shades of grey when determining intent & punishment.
I'll go along with that thinking. Arrest, and leave the prosecution and sentencing to others charged with it.
What??
D'ya mean... let justice take its course??
What a weird idea!