Richard Barnett

But all this was forgotten when Richard became the virtual poster child for the J6 protests.  The old adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words” is as true as ever.  On January 6th 2021, Richard ‘Bigo’ Barnett was photographed sitting in the chair of the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi’s, chair flashing a thumbs up.  This iconic picture was actually suggested by a news agency photographer who was on the scene.  According to his attorney, Joseph McBride, “When Richard Barnett walked into Speaker Pelosi’s office, he walked in simultaneously with Saul Loeb. Saul has the Getty copyright image and has made a ton of money off that photograph.  He set Richard up, and profited from that set up. It’s unconscionable.” Saul Loeb, a Washington DC based photojournalist for a French news organization, actually suggested that Barnett sit in chair. This is not unusual.  Photojournalists, also known as Paparazzi, can be unscrupulous, paying unwitting victims by suggesting set up poses to benefit from the tragedies that often unfold as a result of the photo.  It should also be noted that the Capitol building is a maze.  Congressman Clay Higgins, in a J6 investigation, has stated there were at least 200 FBI agents dressed as Trump supporters that led protestors to just the *right* offices for these photo opportunities…and their demise.

Just before the picture was taken, Richard was caught in a throng of people trying to squeeze too many bodies into a small entrance of the capital. He was almost crushed as video footage reveals.  But his luck held out and Richard prevailed and walked inside.  He did not attack, or was accused of attacking any police officers but walked peacefully to the Speakers Chambers.  Other than that, not much else happened that day.  Richard left the capitol and headed home but not before someone in the cast of characters at the melee saw that Richard had a stun gun in his pocket.  A non-lethal weapon but none the less, falls under the classification as a ‘dangerous weapon’.

Once he learned that he was wanted, Richard Barnett turned himself in peacefully.  He was arraigned and charged with 8 counts of both felonies and misdemeanors, the most serious of which were interfering with a police officer in the line of duty and carrying a dangerous weapon. Turns out that the stun gun he was carrying did not even work, as his attorney pointed out in his trial.

As the trial approached Richard’s attorney tried several times to have the venue changed.  His reasoning was clear and simple, “Knowing the jury pool in DC would be heavily Democrats we tried to get the venue changed but were denied.  No request of change of venue has been approved by DC judges.  Any change of venue (outside NY) would likely result in probation with no time and they know that—the goal is maximum punishment.  Trump supporters don’t have a chance in hell in a DC jury pool that is 96% Joe Biden positive on a good day. Combine that with the Jan 6th committee findings and Joe Biden’s comments about MAGA Republicans and all the congressional voices coming out against the defendants, and they have no chance of an impartial jury,” he said. 

Case in point, after two weeks of testimony, the jury only deliberated for 2 hours before returning with a ‘guilty on all counts’ verdict.  According the McBride, “Two hours was not even enough time to go over one of the body cam videos in full, they had their minds made up.” Seems reasonable to assume.  But McBride says there are ample reasons to suggest that they could get a retrial after getting an FBI agent to lie on the stand, later saying, “I must have mis-remembered,” and even getting one of Nancy Pelosi’s #2 staffer, Emily Barrett, who McBride claims perjured herself with wildly inconsistent statements.  But the bottom line is this; Richard was sentence harshly for crimes that were not even considered violent – 4.5 years.

On 1/23/23, the jury found Richard Barnett guilty on 8 counts. Sentencing held on 5/24/2023, gave him a stiff 54 months of Incarceration.  He was also fined with a “Special Assessment” totaling $455 and restitution in the amount of $2,000.  His attorney, friends and family are praying and continue to believe he will be vindicated one day.  To aid in his defense and other expenses, go to https://www.bop.gov/inmates/communications.jsp#money