The participant in the January 6th domestic terrorist attack on the US Capitol famous for having his feet up on Nancy Pelosi’s desk made a guest appearance on Russian state television channel VGTRK this past weekend as the Kremlin continues to characterize the insurrectionists who attempted an insurrection as American heroes who were fighting for the rightful victor of the election, Donald Trump.

As reported in the Daily Beast, Richard Barnett and his attorney made a guest appearance on Russian nightly news explaining to the correspondent that Bennett and other January 6th insurrectionists are being persecuted for their political views.

The tact being taken by Barnett echoes the characterization of the domestic terrorists involved in the attack that is being broadcast on Fox News and by politicians like Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson, Georgia QAnon Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and alleged Florida sex trafficker Matt Gaetz. 

During his appearance on Russian television, Barnett said (through a translator) that prison conditions were harsh and unbearable, apparently unaware that people are regularly tortured and even killed in Russian jails.

Asked by the Russian reporter if he would go through it all over again, Barnett–despite the objections of his lawyer–replied “I exercise my First Amendment rights every hour, every minute and every day, and I will never stop.”  The reporter said in a voiceover, “Everyone arrested in the January 6th case feels that way.”