Richard Barnett, a man from Arkansas in the United States, participated in the violent storming of the Capitol in 2021. He was still sitting in the office of then Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi with his feet on her desk.
A jury found him guilty of eight charges on the 23rd of this month.
Barnett, 62, of Gravett, Arkansas, was one of the first people arrested for storming Congress.
After he broke into Pelosi's office, he sat on a chair and put his feet on the desk. Related photos were quickly spread on the Internet, and netizens frantically clicked.
Barnett also took an envelope on Pelosi's desk with Pelosi's typewritten signature addressed to another member of Congress.
The U.S. Department of Justice disclosed on the 23rd that a jury in Washington, D.C. ruled that Barnett was guilty of eight charges, including theft of government property, obstruction of official procedures and illegal use of dangerous weapons.
It is understood Barnett could face up to 47 years in prison.
Barnett was interviewed by the media after storming Congress, claiming that he put a quarter on Pelosi's desk, "even though she is not worth the money at all."
He also left a note on his desk with the insult on it.
In his affidavit, Barnett admitted wrongdoing, but argued that he did not know Congress was in the process of certifying Joseph Biden for president and that breaking into Congress was illegal, according to the Wall Street Journal. .
As for the photo in Pelosi's office, he explained to the jury: "This is how I sit at home."
In addition, also due to the violent impact on Congress, four members of the far-right organization "Oath Guardian Organization" were convicted of conspiracy to riot on the 23rd.
Two months earlier, two members of the group had been convicted in similar circumstances.
U.S. official data shows that more than 950 people have been arrested so far for storming Congress.
Most of them face charges of lesser crimes such as illegally entering Congress, while a few face charges of more serious crimes such as conspiracy to riot, possession of a deadly weapon, and assault.
So far, about 530 people have voluntarily pleaded guilty or have been found guilty.
On January 6, 2021, supporters of then-Republican President Donald Trump stormed Congress, interrupting the joint meeting of the Senate and the House of Representatives to certify that Democrat Joe Biden was elected president.
Some demonstrators broke into the Capitol and clashed with the police. At least one police officer and four demonstrators were killed, and about 140 police officers were injured.
(Source: CCTV News Client)