# Florida Man charged with stealing Speaker's podium **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 10, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157 "2021-01-10T02:28:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/1 "2021-01-10T02:28:11Z")
Thought it might be useful to have a thread to track the steady grinding of the wheels of the law following the insurrection at the Capitol: > **[Florida Man Carrying Pelosi's Lectern Arrested, Mug Shot Released](https://www.tmz.com/2021/01/09/florida-man-adam-johnson-carrying-pelosis-lectern-podium-arrested/)** > > The man who mugged for the camera while gleefully carrying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's lectern has been arrested. And then there’s Desk Man, who has got the US Postal Police on his tail, for stealing mail from the Speaker’s office: > **[Man pictured with foot on desk in Pelosi's office is arrested](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-foot-desk-pelosi-s-office-capitol-arrested-n1253490)** > > Images apparently showing Richard Barnett of Arkansas in the speaker's office became emblematic of the mayhem that tore across the U.S. Capitol. And there’s the West Virginia Legislator, who was charged after posting video of himself in the riots, and who has apparently resigned his position: > **[West Virginia lawmaker resigns after being charged for filming himself at...](https://abcnews.go.com/US/west-virginia-lawmaker-charged-filming-pro-trump-siege/story?id=75139030)** > > A West Virginia state Republican lawmaker who was arrested after filming himself inside the U.S. Capitol during Wednesday's violent siege has resigned. And Horny Fur Man has been arrested: > **[Jake Angeli, who wore fur hat and horns as mob raided U.S. Capitol, arrested...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/01/09/jake-angeli-qanon-man-fur-hat-horns-capitol-riot-arrested/6609039002/)** > > The QAnon-supporting man who briefly took the dais during the storming of the U.S. Capitol was arrested Saturday, the Justice Department said. These are the easy, stupid, ones of course; the ones who don’t realise that it’s really not a good idea to post selfies of themselves rioting in the Capitol. More will no doubt follow, but this is a good start. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/2 "2021-01-10T02:33:29Z")
But none will be charged with interfering with the government, no sedition or ill intent. It looks like illegal entry is the worst they might get. Pay the fine on the way out, nothing to see here. If this WAS an attack on your democracy, the big deal you say it is, then why are they being charged like they broke into your shed? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/3 "2021-01-10T02:35:25Z")
Holding charges. These are easily provable and get the assholes into custody. Once there they can be charged with the works. But _after_ Jan. 20. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/4 "2021-01-10T02:36:09Z")
As someone commented in another thread, you go for the low-hanging fruit first. Offences like sedition take time and effort to prove, because you have to have evidence of intent. Trespass and property offences are the easy one. Start there, and see if Florida Man and Desk Man just might want to sing a bit, because they’re facing a year or two of federal time, until you can go up the next level. With that evidence from Florida Man and Desk Man, arrest the next level up on more serious charges. Rinse and repeat, see if the next level up might be chatty when facing a couple of decades of federal time. ETA: what **silenus** said. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/5 "2021-01-10T02:37:44Z")
The House of America is badly infected with mold, and applying fresh paint over the top of it will only make it worse. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/6 "2021-01-10T02:45:50Z")
Thirteen have been charged in the DC Federal Court, and another forty have been charged in DC Superior Court. I assume that the Federal Court charges are the more serious ones, more closely linked to the Capitol? > **[DOJ: 13 Charged in Federal Court in Connection to Deadly Capitol Insurrection](https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2021-01-08/doj-13-charged-in-federal-court-in-connection-to-deadly-capitol-insurrection#:~:text=Thirteen%20people%20have%20been%20charged,arrested%20and%20charged%20in%20D.C)** > > The Justice Department announced charges against 13 people Friday in connection with the deadly Pro-Trump riots at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday. > [@](#): > > THIRTEEN PEOPLE HAVE been charged in federal court so far for crimes related to the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, including a man who is accused of having 11 Molotov cocktails and two firearms, the Justice Department [said Friday](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/thirteen-charged-federal-court-following-riot-united-states-capitol). > > Another 40 people have been arrested and charged in D.C. Superior Court. > … > Charges against individuals include illegal possession of firearms on Capitol grounds, assault on federal law enforcement, violent and disorderly conduct, and illegally entering and remaining on restricted grounds, among others. > > Richard Barnett, the man seen in a now-infamous photo lounging in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, and who stole mail from Pelosi’s office before bragging about it to The New York Times, is among those facing federal charges. > > Brad Rukstales, the chief executive officer of a Chicago-area data analytics firm, was also among those charged and is accused of unlawful entry and violent and disorderly conduct. Rukstales on Thursday issued a public [apology](https://twitter.com/brad_rukstales/status/1347384943824031744/photo/1), calling his actions the '“single worst personal decision of my life” while describing himself as a “peaceful and law-abiding citizen.” ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/7 "2021-01-10T02:49:27Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > These are the easy, stupid, ones of course; the ones who don’t realise that it’s really not a good idea to post selfies of themselves rioting in the Capitol. Not sure I’d quite put it that way but whoever brought pipe bombs is probably a bigger concern. While they were stupid, but you really think a 40 something old George Washington wouldn’t have livestreamed some of is antics? ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/8 "2021-01-10T03:09:07Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Thirteen have been charged in the DC Federal Court, So the first question that pops into my head is - could Trump include these MAGAt morons on his pardon list, on his way out the door? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/9 "2021-01-10T03:58:53Z")
Oh, I certainly hope so! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/10 "2021-01-10T06:13:51Z")
I posted the following in another thread. Fits better here: > [@US Capitol under siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/483): > > Nick Ochs, who ran unsuccessfully for state office last November – the wife and I both voted against him – was a founder of the Hawaiian chapter of the Proud Boys. I never even knew they were here. But he was caught on camera participating in the mayhem, and the FBI arrested him at Honolulu airport last night as he returned to Hawaii. He’ll be extradited back to Washington. Story [here](https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/01/08/proud-boys-hawaii-founder-arrested-after-returning-honolulu-following-us-capitol-riots/). Good fucking riddance. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/11 "2021-01-10T06:57:53Z")
Florida Man strikes again. Worst superhero ever. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/12 "2021-01-10T07:03:23Z")
I expect that the next time Trumpers attack (just ten days from now,) they’ll all have learned their lesson and will wear masks and sunglasses. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/13 "2021-01-10T07:25:56Z")
But then what would be the point of selfies with the cops?! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/14 "2021-01-10T12:45:27Z")
The guy who stole Pelosi’s podium was just taking a political stand. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/15 "2021-01-10T12:56:57Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The guy who stole Pelosi’s podium was just taking a political stand.   👍 🤣     ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/16 "2021-01-10T13:17:04Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Florida Man strikes again. Worst superhero ever. 🎶 Here I come, to screw the day! 🎶 > [@Telemark](#): > > The guy who stole Pelosi’s podium was just taking a political stand. :rolls up newspaper: Hold still, you. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/17 "2021-01-10T14:24:00Z")
Puns like this could go on for dais. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/18 "2021-01-10T14:28:04Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Puns like this could go on for dais. - He was at a crossroads of his life then he took a hard lec tern. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/19 "2021-01-10T15:01:41Z")
In this thread, there may be an understandable tendency to focus merely on the actions themselves, awful as some of them were. Since the actions themselves are so horrendous— people dying, the Capitol vandalized — many of us are (understandably) losing sight of the stated PURPOSE behind this insurrection. It was to PREVENT THE RESULTS OF AN ELECTION. It was SPECIFICALLY to end American democracy. All these people must be punished MUCH more severely than if the were, say, taking over some business offices … or even if they were taking over the Capitol for some less awful reason (the lulz?). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157/20 "2021-01-10T15:15:43Z")
> [@FigNorton](#): > > Not sure I’d quite put it that way but whoever brought pipe bombs is probably a bigger concern. While they were stupid, but you really think a 40 something old George Washington wouldn’t have livestreamed some of is antics? I don’t think so, no. He would soon become a military general in the revolution. He’d know better than to paint such a target on himself and others before they had sufficiently high numbers to be able to fight the British off. I generally think these people were too deluded in thinking that tons of people supported them when they didn’t, and lacked the ability to consider the consequences. Washington understood guerilla warfare much better than these guys. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-man-charged-with-stealing-speakers-podium/930157.md?page=2)