Richard Barnett, the Arkansas man who was photographed with his feet up at the desk of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, was found guilty on all eight counts he faced in connection to the riots. The counts include felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, as well as theft and entering and remaining in restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.
Prosecutors said Barnett had a stun gun tucked into his pants when he stormed the Capitol and invaded Rep. Pelosi’s office. The photos of him at Pelosi’s desk put him alongside Jacob Chansley, also known as the “QAnon Shaman”, as some of the most memorable figures from Jan. 6.
Last week, Barnett testified that he was looking for a bathroom when he unwittingly entered Pelosi’s office and encountered two news photographers. He said one of the photographers told him to “act natural,” so he leaned back in a chair and flung his legs onto the desk.
According to prosecutors, Barnett took a piece of her mail and left behind a note that said, “Nancy, Bigo was here,” punctuating the message with a sexist expletive. Before leaving Capitol grounds, Barnett used a bullhorn to give a speech to the crowd, shouting, “We took back our house, and I took Nancy Pelosi’s office!”
After the verdict was read Monday, Barnett vowed to appeal his conviction, calling it an “injustice.” He noted that the judge had rejected his request to move his trial from Washington to Arkansas.
“This is not a jury of my peers,” Barnett told reporters.
More than 940 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Jan.6 attack. Nearly 500 of them have pleaded guilty.
Barnett is one of several dozen Capitol riot defendants whose case has gone to trial. He was scheduled to be sentenced May 3.
