Texas far-right militia member gets 7 years in prison over Jan 6 Capitol riot
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Guy Reffitt was the first Capitol rioter to go to trial in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
WASHINGTON (BLOMBERG) - The first Capitol rioter to go on trial was ordered to spend more than seven years behind bars – the longest sentence yet in a Jan 6 case – for obstructing Congress and threatening his two children to keep them quiet, among other crimes.
Guy Reffitt, a Texas member of the Three Percenters militia group, was sentenced Monday by US District Judge Dabney Friedrich in Washington. Reffitt, 49, was convicted by a jury in March.
Guy Reffitt, a Texas member of the Three Percenters militia group, was sentenced Monday by US District Judge Dabney Friedrich in Washington. Reffitt, 49, was convicted by a jury in March.
The prison term is shorter than the 15 years sought by prosecutors.
The government had argued that a terrorism enhancement was warranted, noting that Reffitt was armed during the riot and had threatened to physically harm lawmakers.
He led one of the first waves of attackers up the Capitol terrace steps, but didn’t enter the building.
“We were hopeful for a lower sentence,” Reffitt’s lawyer Clinton Broden said in an email.
“We were hopeful for a lower sentence,” Reffitt’s lawyer Clinton Broden said in an email.
“However, the sentence imposed was less than half of what the government sought and she rejected the terrorism enhancement sought by the government so, to that extent, we are happy with the decision.”
Reffitt was ultimately halted by police pepper spray and retreated after a 44-minute confrontation. But prosecutors showed evidence that he waved other rioters ahead, even after he stopped.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed by Mr Reffitt, and underscores the wanton disregard he had for one of the pillars of our democracy–the peaceful transition of power,” Mr Steven D’Antuono, assistant director in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington field office, said in a statement.
The case was seen as a bellwether for how juries may weigh evidence in other trials later this year, including two group trials of militia members accused of seditious conspiracy – the most serious charge stemming from the insurrection.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed by Mr Reffitt, and underscores the wanton disregard he had for one of the pillars of our democracy–the peaceful transition of power,” Mr Steven D’Antuono, assistant director in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington field office, said in a statement.
The case was seen as a bellwether for how juries may weigh evidence in other trials later this year, including two group trials of militia members accused of seditious conspiracy – the most serious charge stemming from the insurrection.
The US Justice Department has charged more than 800 people over the attack.
Most of those sentenced to date pleaded guilty rather than go to trial.
Reffitt’s case also attracted widespread attention because he was reported to the FBI by his son before the Capitol siege.
He later threatened his son and daughter to keep quiet about his participating in the riot, telling them “traitors get shot”.
Along with obstruction of Congress and carrying a loaded firearm on federal grounds, Reffitt was also convicted of obstructing justice for threatening his children. Jackson Reffitt turned his father in anyway and became the government’s star witness at trial.
Reffitt had “specifically targeted” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in remarks he made to other people gathered at former President Donald Trump’s rally before the attack. Reffitt wore a tactical helmet and bulletproof armour during the assault, and carried police-style flexicuffs.
“At the Ellipse on the morning of Jan 6, he told other members of his militia group and those gathered around him that he planned to physically drag Speaker Pelosi out of the Capitol building by her ankles, with her head hitting every step on the way down,” the US said in a July 15 sentencing memorandum.
Reffitt had “specifically targeted” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in remarks he made to other people gathered at former President Donald Trump’s rally before the attack. Reffitt wore a tactical helmet and bulletproof armour during the assault, and carried police-style flexicuffs.
“At the Ellipse on the morning of Jan 6, he told other members of his militia group and those gathered around him that he planned to physically drag Speaker Pelosi out of the Capitol building by her ankles, with her head hitting every step on the way down,” the US said in a July 15 sentencing memorandum.
Reffitt had argued for no more than two years in prison, saying most if not all defendants who received longer sentences had committed far worse crimes, like assaulting police officers.
Reffitt never entered the Capitol, and prosecutors’ portrayal of his actions that day was “overdramatic,” he said.
Reffitt never entered the Capitol, and prosecutors’ portrayal of his actions that day was “overdramatic,” he said.
In Reffitt’s sentencing memorandum, his lawyer said said his client had a “romanticised” view of what would happen on Jan 6, and that he marched on the Capitol after Mr Trump said his supporters should do so.
He also implied Reffitt was suffering from career problems and spending too much time online.
“Mr. Reffitt felt marginalised and inadequate after the loss of his job in 2019 and believed he was failing the family he always worked so hard to provide for,” his lawyer said in the filing.
“Mr. Reffitt felt marginalised and inadequate after the loss of his job in 2019 and believed he was failing the family he always worked so hard to provide for,” his lawyer said in the filing.
“With more time on his hands, he spent significant amounts of time on the computer and, to state the obvious, the internet can be both a blessing and a curse.”
Asking for more than two years “makes a mockery of the criminal justice system,” his lawyer said in another filing on July 29.
