West Virginia Lawmaker, Man Photographed at Pelosi’s Desk Among First To Be Charged Over Capitol Riot
Federal authorities are working hard to locate and arrest people involved in Wednesday's riot in which a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building as lawmakers tried to certify the Electoral College results.
On Friday, the Department of Justice has announced numerous arrests of intruders, including a West Virginia state representative who recorded and then deleted a video of himself storming the Capitol along with hundreds of rioters.
According to an NBC News report, the Republican state representative was Derrick Evans. Around 32,000 people signed a petition demanding Evans to resign from his post. So far, he has yet to resign.
The petition stated that they want to remove Evans from his seat for leading and participating, and going against the Constitution, as well as the rule of law.
Related story: McEnany: Trump Condemns Violent Riot at U.S. Capitol
On Wednesday, Evans live streamed a video on his Facebook page outside the Capitol as rioters pushed against a police barricade. Evans was heard yelling and saying to bring tear gas and that they are taking the country back "whether you like it or not."
Evans, at one point, can also be heard asking the location of the Proud Boys, which is a far-right and all-male, self-described Western chauvinists group. Evans also said that was only there to watch and he has not touched anything.
He also told the rioters not to vandalize. He defended his actions by saying that he was there as "an independent member of the media to film history." Evans was charged for illegally entering the Capitol building during the riot.
More Capitol Rioters Arrested and Charged
A senior Justice Department official said that law enforcement also took into custody Richard Barnett, 60, of Gravette, Arkansas after he posted photos of himself sitting inside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office with one leg resting on her desk, according to a Fox News report.
Barnett said that he was looking for a bathroom when he saw the door to Pelosi's office was open.
"I sat down here in my desk. I'm a taxpayer. I'm a patriot. That ain't her desk - we loaned her that desk. And she ain't appreciating the desk, so I thought I would sit down and appreciate the desk," Barnett reportedly said.
Reports said that he took a letter from the Speaker's office and left her a note and a quarter. Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said that the shocking images of Barnett with his boots up on a desk in Pelosi's office on Wednesday was repulsive.
Barnett, who was charged with three federal counts including violent entry and theft of public property, was expected to make a court appearance in Arkansas and will be extradited to Washington D.C., the Justice Department said.
Meanwhile, the other rioter charged was Lonnie Coffman, 70, from Falkville, Alabama. He was accused of having tow handguns and 11 Molotov cocktails that included gasoline and apparent homemade napalm, according to an official.
He was said to have an M4 Carbine assault rifle. Coffman was identified after police connected him to a suspicious GMC pick-up truck with Alabama plates. He remains in custody pending a detention hearing on Jan. 12.
Another was charged for knowingly entering a restricted area, as well as the assault of an officer. The suspect was identified as Mark Leffingwell, who reportedly repeatedly punched a USCP officer in the helmet and chest.
Read also: Trump Concedes Election To Biden, Condemns Capitol Riot
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