The son of a Capitol rioter is horrified by his father’s release
It’s been almost four years since that day His father was imprisoned for my part in Riots in the capital on January 6Jackson Reffitt was completely shocked when he saw President Donald Trump sign the executive order The sentence was pardoned and commuted for his father and about 1,500 other rebels.
Reffitt has spent much of the past four years in hiding, constantly moving every few months. He was the one who was disclosed to the FBI about his father’s participation in the uprising. Jackson’s father, Guy Reffitt, was a member of the Texas Three Percenter group when he stormed the Capitol in body armor, carrying a pistol and zip ties. He was captured on camera urging other rioters to storm the Capitol building and telling members of his militia group that he intended to drag House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by her ankles. she exited the building, “with her head hitting each step on the way down.”
“It was Trump who issued the presidential pardon so he could go free. That validation was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience that he will never have again,” Reffitt told WIRED. “I can’t imagine what he would be willing to do now. It could get a lot worse.”
Reffitt was “horrified” about what was about to happen and armed herself with a pistol and rifle to protect herself and her boyfriend. Over the past few years, he has been targeted for online harassment and intimidation.
Since Trump pardoned everyone, the threats have become even more intense.
“[In the last 24 hours] it got worse than ever,” Reffitt told WIRED. “I think just because, again, the validation that Trump is providing just makes people a lot more emboldened to just say terrible, disgusting things.”
Reffitt is not the only family member of a prisoner released on January 6 who is concerned about the fallout from Trump’s blanket pardon. Tasha Adams, the ex-wife of Oath Keeper leader Stewart Rhodes, who received a 22-year prison sentence for conspiracy that was commuted by Trump, is also worried about what could happen. “Stewart is out of jail now and honestly, I could really use a little bit of operating funds, in that case,” Adams wrote on her GoFundMe page on Tuesday, hours after her ex-husband was released from prison.
The investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol became the largest in Justice Department history and left many far-right militia groups in the country in tatters. But with a single stroke of the pen on Monday night, Trump reinvigorated the militia movement, unleashing its most prominent figures, including Rhodes and Proud boy leader Enrique Tarrio.
“One of the things I’m most concerned about is the risk of groups being destroyed after J6 coming back stronger, especially as many of them Their sentences have been reduced or they have been fully pardoned.” Program on extremism. “I wouldn’t be shocked if the Oath Keepers start showing up more and see the Proud Boys ramp up their culture war tactics, especially against the LGBTQ community, as we’ve seen before . Their leaders are free, they have things to pursue, and maybe they are feeling vindicated.”
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Guy Reffitt was the first rioter to go on trial for his actions on 6 January and initially received a sentence of seven years and three months, which was reduced by seven months in December following a Court ruling. Supreme Court resulted in the dismissal of the obstruction charge. against him.
“I am a very strong Patriot, with great support from Patriot Warriors, as we navigate troubled waters,” Reffitt wrote to an acquaintance from prison in a text message document submitted by the prosecution during his December sentencing hearing.
