J6 political prisoner and retired firefighter Richard Barnett, famously photographed with his feet on a desk in former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the Stop the Steal rally on January 6, 2021, wrote an “Open Letter to the President Trump” from his prison cell in the Seagoville Federal Correctional Institution.
Barnett, amid political persecution while serving a 4-year prison sentence in the Texas penitentiary, says he stands firm in his faith as the “current regime” seeks to destroy the former president as it did political prisoners , “making accusations.”
“My strength goes beyond their attempts,” the 63-year-old political hostage wrote. “The point of me writing to you, as I sit behind barbed wire for the next few years, separated from all I love and hold dear, is that I still stand strong for our great nation, a nation founded on sacrifice and determination of our ancestors.
“And I stand with you, President Trump, because I know that your courage is of the same substance as mine, willing to stand at all costs against those who are intent on destroying the will of We the People. Because we both know that wielding the sword of truth requires many sacrifices.
“I also believe that God, our Father, raises up whom He wills, as He wills, for His purposes and that He is not near the end with any of us. So with that thought I wish you good luck, sir.
Barnett traveled from his home in Arkansas to the nation’s capital on Jan. 6 to support Donald Trump and listen to the former president speak at the Capitol complex.
Several reporters and photographers were also present when Barnett entered Pelosi’s office. The photographers reportedly pressured Barnett to pose for photos, telling him to sit at the desk and “act natural” as they took a series of photos.
He testified that he was “going with the flow” when he posed for photographers.
Barnett stayed in Pelosi’s office for a total of six minutes, grabbed an envelope from one of the desks, and wrote Pelosi a note that said, “Hey Nancy, Bigo was here bitch.”
Two hours later, photos of Barnett in Pelosi’s office went viral and became one of the most iconic images of January 6. Pelosi’s daughter, Christine, posted Barnett’s photo on Twitter warning that “seditionist will be prosecuted.”
Before leaving the Capitol, Barnett gave a speech to the crowd from a bullhorn.
“We took our house back and I took Nancy Pelosi’s office,” he said, according to the indictment.
Hours after Barnett returned home on January 7, the FBI knocked on his door. On January 8, he was arrested by an army of armed federal agents in a pre-dawn raid and held in protective custody.
Barnett was ordered to remain behind bars without the ability to post bail or bond, even though he has no criminal record and is not facing assault charges.
On January 29, the Justice Department indicted Barnett for obstruction of an official proceeding; Aid and aiding; Entering and remaining in a prohibited building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a prohibited building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; Enter and stay in some rooms of the Capitol; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol; Parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building; Theft of state property.
The “dangerous or deadly weapon” was a collapsible walking stick that can also be used as a stun gun, which contained no batteries while in the Capitol.
Barnett testified during the trial that he was pushed into the Capitol and unknowingly entered Pelosi’s office looking for a bathroom.
Participating in the riot was “a conundrum in my life that I regret,” but prosecutors “want me to feel remorse for things I didn’t do,” Barnett said under oath. “Gen. The 6th was a traumatic day for everyone, not just for the police.”
On May 25, 2023, a jury found Barnett guilty on eight charges in a Washington kangaroo court and he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper to over 4 years in prison. Prosecutors asked for seven years.
Judge Cooper chastised Barnett enjoying the notoriety and media attention following the riot.
“All people who know ‘Bigo’ must know that the actions of January 6 cannot be repeated without serious repercussions,” Cooper told Barnett during the sentencing hearing.
Barnett’s attorney, Jonathan Gross, said Barnett was singled out because the photo made him famous, arguing that “he shouldn’t be punished because the government thinks he’s a symbol.”
***PLEASE SUPPORT J6 POLITICAL PRISONER RICHARD BARNETT HERE***
Immediately after the verdict was read in court, Barnett said he had “absolutely not” been given a fair trial.
“I think the venue should have been changed. This is not a jury of my peers,” she said. “I don’t agree with the decision, but I appreciate the process. We will definitely appeal.”
Barnett, his family’s breadwinner, thanked the American people for helping his disabled wife and family support him during his incarceration with prayers and letters of support.
READ THE LETTER FROM HIS J6 POLITICAL PRISONER RICHARD ‘BIGO’ BARNETT HERE:
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT TRUMP BY RICHARD “BIGO” BARNETT
Dear President Trump,
You don’t know me but maybe you’ve heard of me because I’m a J6 political prisoner. My name is Richard “BIGO” Barnett. “BIGO” is a nickname I acquired in 2020 and is short for big O patriot. At the time I was organizing rallies and fundraisers for Stop the Steal, Back the Blue, Save the Children and Second Amendment rights in the great state of Arkansas.
I am currently in federal prison, a prisoner of the far-left elitist political regime, its puppet masters, and their partisan conspirators in the FBI and Department of Justice.
At age 61, I traveled to Washington for the Stop the Steal rally on January 6, 2021 to peacefully stand in solidarity with you, my President, as well as my fellow America First constitutionalists. I came to make my voice heard.
I was a conservative business owner with no criminal record and I was, and still am, an avid supporter of our great Republic and the community in which I reside.
I am a family man and I believe that Democrats’ destruction of the family unit and their ability to keep black people on their welfare plantations has been the catalyst to foster a rapidly growing social justice debacle that exempts individuals from any personal responsibility. They attacked every common decency known to an ethical and civilized humanity and an attempt at totalitarian socialism.
As is the case with your current situation, the current regime has removed the blindfold from Lady Justice, making up accusations to try to destroy me. But my strength goes beyond their attempts.
The point of me writing to you, as I sit behind barbed wire for the next few years, separated from all I love and hold dear, is that I still stand strong for our great nation, a nation founded on the sacrifice and determination of our ancestors. .
And I stand with you, President Trump, because I know that your courage is of the same substance as mine, willing to stand up at all costs to those who are intent on destroying the will of We the People. Because we both know that wielding the sword of truth requires many sacrifices.
I also believe that God, our Father, raises up who He wills, as He wills, for His purposes and that He is not near the end with any of us. So with that thought I wish you good luck, sir.
PS. You must not imagine the financial and emotional burden this burden has placed on us, given that my wife is disabled and I have always been the sole breadwinner.
If you have access to any patriots who would like to help us in this difficult time, my family would be very grateful. My account has been set up for donations. AND https://www.givesendgo.com/richardbarnett
PPS – Consider giving each J6er an autographed pair of your new sneakers.
