A Capitol rioter pardoned by President Donald Trump said he would do it all over again, adding that he was "so happy" he was able to participate in it.
"What a great time to be alive. You know, I'm so happy I could be a part of it," Richard Barnett told Newsmax host Greg Kelly. "I've had a lot of anger issues to work through. I mean, I've been through hell. But I'm telling you what, I wouldn't give it back for anything."
Barnett was pictured in one of the viral photos from the day of the Capitol riots, sitting with his feet up on former House Speaker and California Rep. Nancy Pelosi's desk. He said that he had "no regrets" about what happened that day.
"I can only hope that myself and over 1,600 other J6ers showed up that day for Trump, because he asked us to be there. As a point in our country, I'm hoping that that was one of the reasons that the rest of America woke up and saw the corruption and destruction that was happening to our country," Barnett told the outlet.
The rioter from Arkansas said he "left 25 cents on the b****'s desk" after he accidentally bled on an envelope on Pelosi's desk. Barnett said he believed that the envelope would have cost around 10 cents, but he said that government officials "made a huge issue" over this "because apparently because the government bought it it was a $20 envelope."
In 2023, Barnett was found guilty of eight charges, including obstruction of an official proceeding, theft of government property, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, as reported by KFSM.
After spending about one year and eight months behind bars, Barnett said he was released right before midnight on Inauguration Day.
Trump's decision to pardon the hundreds of individuals convicted of or facing charges in connection with the Capitol riots sparked backlash from several lawmakers and organizations. Some former rioters have even spoken out against the pardons, pledging to refuse it themselves.
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