EXCLUSIVE

From Memphis to Capitol attack: How Richard Barnett ended up inside Pelosi’s office

Divorce, alcohol paved former firefighter’s path

By , Special to The Daily Memphian Updated: January 19, 2021 5:02 PM CT | Published: January 19, 2021 3:15 PM CT
<strong>Richard Barnett sits at a desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi&rsquo;s office during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.</strong> (U.S. District Court for Western Arkansas records)

Richard Barnett sits at a desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. (U.S. District Court for Western Arkansas records)

Richard Barnett, the man charged with seizing Nancy Pelosi’s office during the Capitol riot, was born and raised in Memphis and worked briefly as a firefighter here before moving in his 30s to Northwest Arkansas.

Marc Perrusquia

Marc Perrusquia

Marc Perrusquia is the director of the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the University of Memphis, where graduate students learn investigative and explanatory journalism skills working alongside professionals. He's won numerous state and national awards for government watchdog, social justice and  political reporting. Follow the Institute on Facebook or Twitter @psr_memphis.


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