First U.S. Capitol rioter to stand trial convicted on all counts after teenage son testifies

A Texas man was convicted Tuesday of storming the U.S. Capitol with a holstered handgun, interfering with police and of threatening his two teenage kids in the event that they reported him to legislation enforcement after the riots of January 2021. 

A federal jury in Washington, D.C. deliberated for roughly three hours earlier than they discovered Man Wesley Reffitt responsible of 5 counts: obstruction of an official continuing, being unlawfully current on Capitol grounds whereas armed with a firearm, transporting firearms throughout a civil dysfunction, interfering with legislation enforcement officers throughout a civil dysfunction, and obstruction of justice.

Reffitt, 49, of Wylie, Texas, didn’t testify at his trial, which began final Wednesday. He did not visibly react to the decision, though his face was partially lined by a masks.

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Reffitt’s conviction is linked to the Capitol riots of Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of over a thousand folks stormed the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, with some barging into the constructing. Reffitt’s was the primary trial amongst a whole lot of instances arising from final yr’s riot.

Greater than 750 folks have been charged with federal crimes associated to the riot. Over 220 of them have pleaded responsible, largely to misdemeanors. and over 110 of them have been sentenced. Roughly 90 others have trial dates.

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In a press launch from instantly after his conviction, the U.S. Division of Justice described how Reffitt “was particularly focusing on Speaker of the Home Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell.”

This artist sketch depicts Decide Dabney Friedrich searching from the bench throughout jury choice for Man Wesley Reffitt, joined by his lawyer William Welch, prime proper, in Federal Courtroom, in Washington, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022.
(Dana Verkouteren by way of AP)

“At one level, Reffitt’s digital camera recorded him saying, ‘We’re taking the Capitol earlier than the day is over,’” the DOJ mentioned. “By roughly 1:50 p.m., Reffitt was on the entrance of a pack that charged U.S. Capitol Cops on the terrace on the west aspect of the Capitol constructing. He climbed a banister, led the mob up staircases outdoors the Capitol constructing, and stored advancing on the officers holding the police line, at the same time as he was struck repeatedly by the officers’ lower than deadly projectiles and O.C. spray.” 

Throughout the trial’s closing arguments on Monday, Assistant U.S. Legal professional Risa Berkower advised jurors that Reffitt drove to Washington, D.C., desiring to cease Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory. Reffitt proudly “lit the hearth” that allowed others in a mob to overwhelm Capitol cops close to the Senate doorways, the prosecutor mentioned.

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Reffitt was not accused of getting into the Capitol constructing. Protection legal professional William Welch mentioned there isn’t a proof that Reffitt broken property, used power or bodily harmed anyone.

This artist sketch depicts Man Wesley Reffitt, backside proper, joined by his lawyer William Welch, third from proper, listening as prosecutor Risa Berkower, speaks on the podium at heart, as a video depicts a handgun on the waist of Reffitt, at left, for members of the jury and viewers in Federal Courtroom, in Washington, Monday, March 7, 2022.
(Dana Verkouteren by way of AP)

The protection lawyer urged jurors to acquit Reffitt of all prices however one: He mentioned they need to convict him of a misdemeanor cost that he entered and remained in a restricted space.

Jurors noticed movies that captured the confrontation between just a few Capitol cops and a mob of individuals, together with Reffitt, who approached them on the west aspect of the Capitol.

Reffitt was armed with a Smith & Wesson pistol in a holster on his waist, carrying zip-tie handcuffs and sporting physique armor and a helmet outfitted with a video digital camera when he superior on police, in keeping with prosecutors. He retreated after an officer pepper sprayed him within the face, however he waved on different rioters who in the end breached the constructing, prosecutors mentioned.

Earlier than the group superior, Reffitt used a megaphone to shout at police to step apart and to induce the mob to push ahead and overtake officers. Assistant U.S. Legal professional Jeffrey Nestler mentioned Reffitt performed a management position that day.

Throughout final Friday’s testimony, prosecutors zoomed in on a video picture of Reffitt on the Capitol. FBI Particular Agent Laird Hightower mentioned the picture reveals “a silvery metallic linear object” in a holster protruding from beneath Reffitt’s jacket as he leaned ahead.

Shauni Kerkhoff, who was one of many Capitol cops who tried to repel Reffitt, mentioned she launched pepperballs that didn’t cease him from advancing. She testified that Reffitt seemed to be main the group upstairs towards police.

Reffitt’s 19-year-old son, Jackson, testified final Thursday that his father threatened him and his sister, then 16, after he drove residence from Washington. Reffitt advised his kids they might be traitors in the event that they reported him to authorities and mentioned “traitors get shot,” Jackson Reffitt recalled.

Jackson Reffitt, then 18, mentioned the risk terrified him. His youthful sister, Peyton, was listed as a doable authorities witness however didn’t testify. 

Reffitt used a cellphone app to secretly file his father boasting about his position within the riot, he mentioned. Jurors heard excerpts of that household dialog. He initially contacted the FBI on Christmas Eve, lower than two weeks earlier than the riot, to report issues about his father’s habits and more and more worrisome rhetoric. However the FBI didn’t reply till Jan. 6, after the riot erupted.

Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.
((AP Photograph/Jose Luis Magana))

One other key witness, Rocky Hardie, mentioned he and Reffitt had been members of “Texas Three Percenters” militia group. The Three Percenters militia motion refers back to the delusion that solely 3% of Individuals fought within the Revolutionary Conflict towards the British.

Hardie drove from Texas to Washington with Reffitt. He testified that each of them had been armed with holstered handguns after they attended then-President Trump’s “Cease the Steal” rally earlier than the riot erupted. Reffitt additionally took an AR-15 rifle to Washington however left it locked up in his automotive, Hardie mentioned.

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Hardie mentioned Reffitt, throughout their drive to Washington, talked about dragging lawmakers out of the Capitol and changing them with individuals who would “observe the Structure.” Hardie additionally mentioned Reffitt gave him two pairs of zip-tie cuffs in case they wanted to detain anyone.

Reffitt was arrested lower than per week after the riot. 

On this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 file photograph supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by U.S. Capitol Cops outdoors the Senate Chamber contained in the Capitol in Washington.
(AP Photograph/Manuel Balce Ceneta, file)

One other key witness, Rocky Hardie, mentioned he and Reffitt had been members of “Texas Three Percenters” militia group. The Three Percenters militia motion refers back to the delusion that solely 3% of Individuals fought within the Revolutionary Conflict towards the British.

Hardie drove from Texas to Washington with Reffitt. He testified that each of them had been armed with holstered handguns after they attended then-President Donald Trump’s “Cease the Steal” rally earlier than the riot erupted. Reffitt additionally took an AR-15 rifle to Washington however left it locked up in his automotive, Hardie mentioned.

Hardie mentioned Reffitt, throughout their drive to Washington, talked about dragging lawmakers out of the Capitol and changing them with individuals who would “observe the Structure.” Hardie additionally mentioned Reffitt gave him two pairs of zip-tie cuffs in case they wanted to detain anyone.

Fox Information’ Jake Gibson contributed to this report, in addition to The Related Press.