The Capitol rioter who invaded then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office on Jan. 6, 2021, and later sold autographed phots of his feet on her desk, was sentenced to 54 months in prison by a federal judge on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 (read story here).
Richard Barnett, 63, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, who was convicted of multiple felonies, draw the harsh sentence partly because he was armed with a 950,000-volt stun gun during the riot. But the judge also cited his lack of remorse.
During his sentencing hearing, Barnett apologized for getting “angry” that day, but otherwise wasn’t sorry for his actions. He continued to repeat false conspiracy theories about the 2020 election after participating in the riot, and selling the pictures didn’t help at his sentencing.
He wasn’t just angry at Trump’s election loss. He violated the compact the American people have with each other that elections, not violence, are how we settle our differences. His disrespect for the Speaker and her office sprang from a broader disrespect for our system of government and all the veterans who’ve defended it.
Barnett was one of about 15,000 people who traveled to Washington D.C. to demonstrate against certifying the electoral vote in favor of Biden. There’s nothing wrong with protest, but interfering with the transfer of power was both wrong and a crime. And so, obviously, is rioting.
Roughly 1,000 of those demonstrators who crossed that line have been prosecuted for offenses ranging from trespassing to interfering with destroying property and assaulting police. A handful in organized militias have been convicted of sedition.
Many of the rioters only trespassed, and they got fines and probation, but those convicted of more serious crimes are getting prison time — and ruined lives. As convicted felons, they’ll be barred from many types of employment, won’t be able to get security clearances, and can’t have guns. It’s their own fault, and they deserve it.
