The man who was photographed with his feet on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) desk was arrested and now he is throwing a “tantrum,” as The New York Times reports.
The Arkansas man, Richard Barnett, was arrested after he had his feet on the desk in Pelosi’s office during the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6.
He was charged for breaking into Pelosi’s office and stealing her mail during the insurrection.
Earlier this month, Barnett plead not guilty to several charges, according to The Hill.
During a virtual court hearing on Thursday, Barnett, 60, threw a tantrum, according to the Times. He reportedly yelled at the judge and his lawyers, claiming it was not “fair” that he is still in jail while others were released.
After the judge set the next court date for May, Barnett said he did not want to be in jail for “another month.”
“They’re dragging this out!” he reportedly yelled. “They’re letting everybody else out!”
After a brief recess, the judge said “he would consider a new motion for release if and when Mr. Barnett’s lawyers filed one,” the Times reports.
Barnett’s attorneys have reportedly tried to secure a bond release, but it has been unsuccessful so far.
BREAKING: The man photographed with his feet on Speaker Pelosi's desk during the Capitol Hill siege has been arrested, @NBCNews has learned. pic.twitter.com/SaiwJ2UFUc
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) January 8, 2021
Barnett’s attorney, Joseph D. McBride, denied Barnett’s yelling was directed at the judge, telling NBC News, “Mr. Barnett’s frustration stems from the fact that he is incarcerated pre-trial, despite lacking any criminal history, being gainfully employed, respected in his community, and in a stable relationship for over 20 years. Normally, facts like these are more than enough for an individual to fight their case from the outside.”
McBride also said, “The absence of our presence, in conjunction with Mr. Barnett’s inability to immediately understand the purpose of the forthcoming May 4th adjournment, is what he believed to be unfair.”
Here’s Mr. Barnett, who goes by “Bigo,” telling the story in his own words pic.twitter.com/oSyKiCDXgy
— Matthew Rosenberg (@AllMattNYT) January 6, 2021
Former acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen previously said, “The shocking images of Mr. Barnett with his boots up on a desk in the speaker of the House’s office on Wednesday was repulsive.”
Rosen added, “Those who are proven to have committed criminal acts during the storming of the Capitol will face justice.”
Over 300 people have been arrested in connection to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol so far.
Pelosi previously spoke about the Jan. 6 riot and her experience during an interview with CBS’ Lesley Stahl, as IJR reported on.
“What happened was a terrible, terrible violation… of the legislative branch by the president of the United States,” she said.
