Insurrectionist Richard Barnett, Who Put Feet On Pelosi’s Desk, Yells At Judge: Imprisonment Isn’t ‘Fair’

During a virtual hearing on Thursday, Arkansas man Richard Barnett screamed that his imprisonment after entering Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi‘s (D-California) office and stealing her mail during the Capitol insurrection was not “fair.” Barnett says that since others from the insurrection were offered bail, he ought to be as well. The courts disagreed.

Barnett’s attorneys have repeatedly asked for their client to be let out on bail, but those requests have been unilaterally shot down by Arkansas federal judges. During a virtual hearing, Barnett made his frustration known shouting, “They’re dragging this out!” and “they’re letting everybody else out!”

Barnett started his shouting after the Arkansas judge Christopher Cooper set his court date for later in May with no option for bail, meaning Barnett would remain in jail for several more months. Judge Cooper called a five-minute recess after Barnett’s outburst. Once court resumed, Barnett was cooperative.

Barnett pleaded not guilty to eight federal charges in February, specifically obstruction of an official proceeding, aiding and abetting, entering and remaining in a certain room in the Capitol building, disorderly/disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building, knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and theft of public money, property, or records.

Article by Brandon Mumei