“It was not a peaceful protest. Hundreds of people came to Washington, DC, to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power,” Chief Justice Beryl Howell of the DC District Court said Thursday during the trial for Capitol rioters Richard Barnett. , said.
Howell’s remarks are among the first from a federal judge on the more than 150 criminal cases arising from the siege. Her verdict on Barnett is also the first ruling in an appeal by the Justice Department after a Washington magistrate rejected his request to keep a suspect in the Capitol riot in jail. At least four others are awaiting decisions by district court judges in Washington after appeals.
Howell made it clear that she believes the crowd is trying to thwart the federal legislative branch to carry out its duties.
“We are still living here in Washington, DC, with the consequences of the violence in which this accused allegedly participated,” she said.
“Just outside this courthouse … are visible memories of the rioting and assault on the Capitol on January 6,” the judge said, noting that she saw the National Guard troops from the window of her courtroom.
Barnett is accused of entering the restricted grounds of the Capitol, violent trespassing and disorderly conduct and for theft of public property after he allegedly took a letter from Pelosi’s office.
‘The titles of the offenses do not even capture the extent of what Mr. Barnett is not accused of that, ‘Howell said during the trial.
Barnett’s attorney, Anthony Siano, argued that his client should not remain in custody. And Barnett, speaking on the conference line during the hearing, said: ‘I have very honest and simple explanations. I’m a good man. ‘
Barnett was not executed and did not file a plea.
Prosecutors also allege that Barnett carried a stun gun to the Capitol after buying it days earlier in preparation for the January 6 pro-Trump rally. After the protest, law enforcement officers searched his home and found a receipt for the stun gun. prosecutors could not find the shotgun he had during the raid. Barnett warned them that they would not be able to find it.
He also surrendered to law enforcement after the riot, although he made an appointment a day after contacting authorities, prosecutors said.
Barnett has a history of arming during rallies, which scares passers-by, prosecutors say.
The facts about Barnett “make the court agree that he poses a danger to the community,” Howell said.
The judge added on Thursday that he was showing the law and disregard for the law: “Total disregard for the US Constitution.”
CNN’s Rebecca Grandahl contributed to this report.