Former West Virginia Councilor Eric Barber argues in Capitol Riot case – CBS Pittsburgh

PARKERSBURG, West Virginia (AP) – A former city councilor for the city of Parkersburg, West Virginia, who is accused of violating the United States Capitol during the January 6 riot has pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor.
Eric Barber, 43, admitted to entering the Capitol and stealing a portable charger from a C-SPAN media station during a remote hearing Thursday, Parkersburg News and Sentinel reported.
“When I entered the Capitol building I knew we weren’t supposed to be there,” he said after the judge asked if the charges were correct.
The criminal complaint alleged that photos and a security video showed Barber inside the Capitol wearing a green combat-style helmet and a green military-style field jacket. He said the video recorded by Barber read: “They are giving us the building” and that he took selfies in the Capitol Rotunda. He also claims he stole a portable power plant from a C-SPAN media booth.
READ MORE: Former West Virginia official Eric Barber pleads not guilty in the January 6 Capitol riot
Barber was elected to Parkersburg city council in 2016 as a Democrat. He changed his registration to Independent a year later, then changed it back to Republican before losing his bid for re-election last November.
As part of the plea deal, other misdemeanor counts will be dismissed. Barber’s sentencing was set for March 31.
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