A defense attorney says a year in prison, with some time credited, is all the incarceration that Richard “Bigo” Barnett of Gravette should get for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
The defense argument, filed late Wednesday night in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., has since been sealed, the clerk’s office said today. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette was among the news outlets that got a look at it before the sealing, and you can read more here but may face a paywall.
“The Government’s relentless pursuit to punish Mr. Barnett left him no choice but to go to trial because the Government’s plea offer was 70 months to 87 months, potentially 7 years in prison, which at Mr. Barnett’s age would be a life sentence,” wrote Barnett’s attorney, Jonathan Gross, according to the newspaper.
According to the Democrat-Gazette, Gross said Barnett should get credit for four months of incarceration he’s already served.
Prosecutors earlier recommended that Barnett be sentenced to seven years and three months in prison plus face a stiff fine and restitution.
Barnett was notorious for a picture showing him seated with one foot propped on then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s desk during the riots.
