Four and a half years in prison for the Capitol stormer who put his feet on Pelosi's table

Richard 'Bigo' Barnet, a supporter of Donald Trump, at the desk of the speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, after the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington (United States).

Richard Bigo Barnett had his moment of fame when he entered the office of the then speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, as if he were at home. It was Jan. 6, 2021, and Barnett was part of the mob that had stormed the Capitol. After sitting in Pelosi's chair, he put his feet up to the desk and that image went around the world. Barnett, who was convicted of several crimes last January, was sentenced Wednesday to four and a half years in prison.

Barnett, 62, testified during the trial that he was looking for a bathroom inside the Capitol when he inadvertently entered Pelosi's office and encountered two press photographers. He said one of the photographers told him to "act natural," so he leaned back in a chair and put his legs on the desk. The photographers denied that account, although they were not called to testify at the trial.

"Did you realize that what you were doing could cause any problems?" defense attorney Joseph McBride asked Barnett during the trial. "I was just in the moment," Barnett replied. "At this moment I just went with the flow," he added, according to statements collected during the trial by the AP agency. Barnett decided to leave a note to Pelosi in which he said: "Nancy, Bigo was here, slut." At the trial, Barnett expressed some regret for some of his actions, but in a defiant tone.

After deliberating for about two hours, the jury unanimously found him guilty of all eight counts of criminal disorder, obstruction of official proceedings and theft of government property. Barnett's decision to testify was "unequivocally the right one," his lawyer told reporters after the verdict.

Prosecutors were asking for a sentence of more than seven years. Barnett appeared Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where Judge Christopher Cooper imposed his 54-month sentence. The judge said he had "shown no acceptance of responsibility".

Barnett addressed the court during the hearing, saying he was not "proud" of his conduct, but saying his attitude was not "threatening". "January 6 was a traumatic day for everyone. I admit I was angry and I apologize for it," he said, but also added: "They want me to have remorse for things I didn't do," according to statements collected by NBC. Barnett plans to appeal and apply for parole.

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