US: A Capitol Hill rioter who posed with his feet on US Democrat Nancy Pelosi’s desk during the attack on Congress has been found guilty of all charges.
Richard “Bigo” Barnett was among the crowd of Trump supporters who stormed the building in attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election result. He posed for cameras after breaking into then Speaker Pelosi’s office and boasted of swiping an envelope before leaving. He was armed with a stun gun and could have harmed Pelosi, officials say.
A jury in Washington DC deliberated for less than three hours before convicting Barnett of all eight charges against him. His crimes include obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly weapon, and theft of government property. Prosecutors argued that Barnett, 62, came to Washington DC from his home in Arkansas - over 1,000 miles away (1,600km) - prepared for violence.
Barnett, a former firefighter, chose to testify in his own defence during the trial. Barnett wrote a note on Pelosi’s desk using a sexist slur, and used a bullhorn to brag to the crowd that “I took Nancy Pelosi’s office” after police forced him out of the building.The Barnett trial has been one of the most high-profile to stem from the January 6, 2021 attack on Congress. More than 940 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the breach and nearly 500 have pleaded guilty so far.
- BBC NEWS
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