Capitol Rioter Richard Barnett Denies Calling Pelosi 'B**ch,' Says 'Biatch' Is 'Less Offensive'

Capitol rioter Richard "Bigo" Barnett has denied allegations that he called Nancy Pelosi a "b**ch" in a note left on her desk. Instead, Barnett said he called the House Speaker a "biatch," which his attorneys claim is "less offensive."

In a motion filed with the U.S. District Court District of Columbia on Friday, Barnett's defense attorneys Joseph D. McBride and Steven A. Metcalf accused the federal government of misquoting the defendant in a note that he had left in Pelosi's office on January 6.

"Hey Nancy Bigo was here Biatd," the note read.

In a footnote, the defense attorneys said that "the 'd' was meant to be two letters, 'c' and 'h' with the 'c' connected to an 'h' to spell the word 'biatch' which is a slang and less offensive word for 'b**ch.'"

Barnett's lawyers also attached a link to the definition of "biatch" on idioms.thefreedictionary.com. The website defined the term as "rude slang, a variant of 'b**ch,' used as a term of endearment or disparagement for another person. Primarily heard in US."

"It does not say 'you' or 'bitch' or have any commas; and the word 'Hey' is intentionally omitted. The government's misrepresentation of Exhibit 7 is its latest deliberate attempt to mislead this Court by casting Mr. Barnett in the worst possible light in order to ensure that pretrial release is not granted in this case," the defense attorneys said.

In January, Barnett, of Arkansas, was indicted on federal charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and theft of public money, property or records.

Barnett's attorneys argued that he should be granted pretrial release. They also claimed that the prosecution "distorted recitation" of his note to Pelosi because they could not legitimately justify keeping him detained, according to Law and Crime.

"The government's argument in favor of pretrial detention is unsupported by facts demonstrative of risk of flight or danger to the community. The government has also utterly failed in demonstrating a specific articulated future threat of dangerousness, but has instead advanced speculation and conjecture in its absence," they wrote.

Barnett claimed he used the word "b**ch" in a viral video taken on January 6, shortly after he stormed the Capitol building. "I left her a note on her desk, it says, 'Nancy, Bigo was here you b**ch,'" he said.

Newsweek reached out to the Department of Justice for comment.