A defendant facing charges after allegedly carrying a stun gun while kicking his feet up on a desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office melted like a snowflake Thursday before a federal judge.
Richard “Bigo” Barnett, 60, of Gravette, Arkansas, a self-described “white nationalist” who posted on Facebook under the name “George Reincarnated Patton,” once said that he “[c]ame into this world kicking and screaming, covered in someone else’s blood” and was “not afraid to go out the same way.”
Barnett turned himself in to authorities after images of his activities spread widely both during and after the deadly riots.
Court documents say Barnett subsequently bragged about his exploits in Pelosi’s office.
“I got blood on her office,” he is quoted as saying. “I put a quarter on her desk even though she ain’t fucking worth it. And I left her a note on her desk that says ‘Nancy, Bigo was here, you Bitch.'”
Barnett said he left the quarter after taking an envelope because he was not a thief.
That’s Richard “Bigo” Barnett, 60, from Gravette, Ak., showing off the personalized envelope he took from Speaker Pelosi’s office. He insisted he didn’t steal it — “I left a quarter on her desk.” pic.twitter.com/aST7MCoRwP
— Matthew Rosenberg (@AllMattNYT) January 6, 2021
Such exploits should not, in his view, keep him behind bars pending trial. He belligerently said Thursday that “its not fair” that others were being released from custody on bail while he remains locked up.
“They’re dragging this out. They’re letting everyone else out,” Barnett yelled while flipping out during a Thursday status conference before a federal judge.
He referred to the proceedings and the decision to keep him detained as “a bunch of crap.”
“Everyone else who did things much worse are already home,” he exclaimed.
The judge, not wanting to further listen to the outbursts, called a five-minute recess. When court resumed, Barnett’s attorneys said they were planning to file a new bond motion; the judge ended the hearing.
According the court docket, Judge Christopher R. Cooper set a new status conference the case for May 4th at 11:00 a.m.
“The Court finds it in the interest of justice to toll the speedy trial clock from 3/4/2021 through 5/4/2021,” the docket continues.
In other words, Barnett’s outburst, either directly or indirectly, resulted in his trial being pushed back two months — and he remain in custody, the docket says.
Defense attorneys Anthony J. Siano, Joseph McBride, Steven Metcalf and Martin Tankleff are listed as representing Barnett. Prosecutors Nicole E. McClain and Mary Dohrmann are representing the government.
[via SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images]
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