It's been almost four years since his father was taken into custody for his part in January 6 Capitol riotJackson Reffitt looked in complete shock when President Donald Trump signed an executive order Sentence waived and sentence reduced to his father and about 1,500 other rebels.
Reffitt has spent most of the last four years in hiding, moving frequently every few months. he was the person who tipped off the FBI About his father's participation in the rebellion. Jackson's father, Guy Reffitt, was a member of the Texas Three Percenters group when they attacked the Capitol wearing body armor and carrying a pistol and zip ties. He was caught on camera urging other rioters to storm the Capitol building and told members of his militia group that he intended to drag House Speaker Nancy Pelosi out of the building by grabbing her ankles, “whenever When he comes down he hits his head.”
“Trump himself has given him a presidential pardon to go free. That recognition is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that he'll never get again,” Reffitt told WIRED. “I can't imagine what he would be willing to do now. “It could be a whole lot worse.”
Reffitt is “terrified” of what is going to happen next, and has armed herself with a handgun and a rifle to protect herself and her boyfriend. Over the past few years, he has been targeted, harassed and threatened online.
Ever since Trump pardoned everyone, the threats are becoming more intense.
,[In the last 24 hours] It's worse than before,” Reffitt told WIRED. “I just think because, again, the recognition that Trump is bringing is making people more courageous to say some disgusting, disgusting nonsense.”
Reffitt isn't the only family member of a prisoner released Jan. 6 who is concerned about the consequences of Trump's blanket pardon. Tasha Adams, the ex-wife of Oath Keeper leader Stewart Rhodes, who was sentenced by Trump to 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy, is also worried about what might happen. “Stewart is out of jail now and, frankly, I could really use some run funds if that happens.” Adams wrote on her GoFundMe page on Tuesday, hours after her ex-husband was released from prison.
The investigation into the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, became the largest in Justice Department history, and laid bare many far-right militia groups in the country. But with the stroke of a pen on Monday night, Trump reinvigorated the militia movement, freeing its most prominent figures, including Rhodes. Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio,
Luke Baumgartner, a research fellow at George Washington University, says, “One of the things I'm most concerned about is the risk of the clusters that were destroyed after J6 coming back stronger, especially since many of them Their sentences were commuted or pardoned.” Program on extremism. “I would not be surprised if the Oath Keepers began to have a greater presence, and saw the Proud Boys specifically ramp up their culture war tactics against the LGBTQ community, as we have seen before. Their leaders are free, they have a lot to catch up on, and they probably feel innocent.”
Got any tips?
Are you a family member of a prisoner who will be released on January 6? We would like to hear from you. Using a non-working phone or computer, contact David Gilbert david.gilbert@wired.com Or safely on Signal at davidgilbert.01
Guy Reffitt was the first rioter to stand trial for his actions on 6 January and initially received a sentence of seven years and three months, which was reduced to seven months in December following a Supreme Court decision, leading to obstruction charges. was rejected. against him.
“I am a very strong patriot, with the fantastic support of the patriotic warriors as we sail through troubled waters,” Reffitt wrote to an acquaintance from jail in December in a text message presented by prosecutors.