Richard Barnett, the man who was photographed with his feet up on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk during the January 6th Capitol riot, is speaking out after his recent pardon by President Trump. Barnett, who had faced charges related to his involvement in the riot, told Newsmax in a candid interview that he has “no regrets” about the day’s events, even though they came at a personal cost.
In an interview with Newsmax host Greg Kelly, Barnett explained his feelings on the infamous moment that led to widespread controversy. “Oh man, what a great time to be alive,” he said. “I’m so happy I could be a part of it. I’ve been through a lot—worked through a lot of anger—but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”
Kelly, acknowledging that the image of Barnett with his feet on Pelosi’s desk became one of the most iconic visuals of that day, asked why he felt the events of January 6th turned out to be a positive thing. Barnett’s response was clear: “I showed up with over 1,600 other patriots because President Trump asked us to. We showed up to stand up for the future of our country. If anything, I hope our actions woke up the rest of America to the corruption that’s been destroying this nation.”
Barnett admitted that, while the consequences were hard, he believed it was a necessary step. “As tough as it’s been, as much as I would have liked things to have gone differently, it had to happen. I have no regrets,” he said.
When questioned about the theft of an envelope from Pelosi’s desk, Barnett humorously defended his actions. “That envelope was about 10 cents anywhere else, but because it’s the government, it was worth $20. I left 25 cents on her desk to cover it,” he explained, adding that he didn’t understand how taxpayer money was being wasted on things like overpriced office supplies.
Barnett was sentenced to 54 months in prison for charges including entering a restricted building and theft of government property. However, after receiving a pardon from President Trump along with over 1,500 other January 6th defendants, Barnett remains unapologetic and steadfast in his belief that the events of that day were a crucial moment in America’s ongoing fight for freedom and integrity.
For many Americans, Barnett’s story represents a deeper truth about the growing frustrations many feel regarding the state of the nation. His perspective is a reminder of the powerful sentiment behind the January 6th protests—one rooted in a belief that the government has lost touch with the values of hard-working American patriots.