1st trial of Jan. 6 defendant ends with conviction on all counts, in a key victory for prosecutors
A federal jury on Tuesday convicted Man Reffitt, a Texas oil and gasoline rig supervisor and guide, on all 5 counts tied to his involvement the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, handing federal prosecutors a key victory within the first Jan. 6 circumstances put prior to a jury. U.S. District Pass judgement on Dabney Friedrich, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, set sentencing for June 8. Reffitt, 49, faces as much as two decades in jail, however will most probably get a lot much less time.
Prosecutors didn’t accuse Reffitt of coming into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, however they equipped proof he spurred the crowed to fight previous cops and smash into the Senate wing, with the intent to forestall Congress from certifying President Biden’s victory. Reffitt, a recruiter for the Texas 3 Percenters military crew, wore a holstered handgun, frame armor, a helmet, and zip-tie handcuffs when he led a gaggle to confront police. In step with police testimony and recordings he made, Reffitt grew to become again after being incapacitated with tear gasoline, however took credit score for the breach.
This was once the primary Jan. 6 trial the place cops testified. Different key witnesses incorporated fellow Texas 3 Percenter Rocky Hardie and Reffitt’s 19-year-old son, Jackson. Jackson Reffitt instructed jurors his father warned him and his 16-year-old sister that “should you flip me in, you are a traitor, and traitors get shot.” He was once “terrified” by way of the risk, Jackson Reffitt testified, however he nonetheless met that afternoon with an FBI agent and grew to become over photographs and recordings he had secretly product of his father boasting about his position within the siege.
After two hours of deliberation, the jury discovered Reffitt responsible of 5 felonies — obstruction of an reliable continuing, interfering with police in a insurrection, transporting a firearm for that goal, armed trespassing, and witness tampering. His lawyer, William Welch, argued the Reffitt must face simplest trespassing fees as a result of, regardless of his bragging and threats, he didn’t input the Capitol, dedicate any exact violence, or harm assets.
Reffitt’s trial was once “the canary within the coal mine” for Jan. 6 defendants who declined plea offers, former federal prosecutor Gregg Sofer, instructed The Related Press. “If you are a defendant expecting trial at this level, the canary simply died.” Of the 750 folks charged with federal crimes tied to Jan. 6, AP provides, greater than 220 have pleaded responsible whilst about 90 others have trial dates.
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