The man seen sitting at what he believed to be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk during the attack on Capitol Hill has been identified as Richard Barnett from Gravette, Arkansas. The man is being accused of stealing a letter addressed by Pelosi but he is insisting he is “not a thief.”
After the chaos, Barnett told an Arkansas news station, “If you are a wicked attorney get in touch with me – I’m going to need one or two.”
According to the 60-year-old, he was looking for the bathroom when he walked past an open office.
“I looked in and saw it was Nancy Pelosi’s office,” he said. “I sat down here in my desk. I’m a taxpayer. I’m a patriot. That ain’t her desk – we loaned her that desk. And she ain’t appreciating the desk, so I thought I would sit down and appreciate the desk.”
Barnett explained he then realized he had a cut on his hand and had “bled on her envelope.”
“So I picked up the envelope and I put it in my pocket and I put a quarter on the desk. Cause I’m not a thief,” claimed Barnett.
He later posted a video to his Twitter account saying, “I didn’t steal it. I bled on it because they were f—–g macing me and I couldn’t f—–g see. And so I figured well I’m in her office, I got blood in her office. I put a quarter on her desk even though she ain’t f—–g working.”
Barnett also shared an image of himself holding the envelope addressed by Nancy Pelosi.
The FBI is seeking to identify individuals instigating violence in Washington, D.C. We are accepting tips and digital media depicting rioting or violence in and around the U.S. Capitol on January 6. If you have information, visit https://t.co/buMd8vYXzH.
— FBI (@FBI) January 7, 2021
At a “Stop the Steal” rally in Bentonville, Arkansas back in November, a local news station broadcasted a video of Barnett holding a “Banana Republic USA” sign.
“Hey if you don’t like it, send somebody out to me but I ain’t going down easy,” he said.
So far Barnett does not appear to be facing any charges related to the breach of the Capitol building which resulted in four deaths and over 70 arrests.
