First Jan. 6 rioter faces lighter prison term following Supreme Court ruling

WASHINGTON — A Texas man, Guy Reffitt, who was the first individual to face trial for the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, received a revised sentence on Friday amounting to nearly seven years in prison. This outcome followed an intense and emotional outburst during the sentencing where Reffitt expressed his displeasure towards the judge, who decided to moderately lessen his original sentence.

Reffitt’s resentencing came as a result of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, which led to the dismissal of his conviction on a charge of obstruction. His new prison term is set at six years and eight months, which is seven months shorter than the previous sentence he received.

As Reffitt sat in court, he visibly struggled with his emotions, shaking his head in agitation while U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich and a prosecutor discussed his involvement in the riot. He articulated to the judge that he was “in my feelings” regarding what he deemed “lies and the craziness” surrounding the statements made about his actions. He insisted, “I was not there to take over no government. I love this country.”

In response, Judge Friedrich remarked, “No one has a problem with your feelings. It’s the actions you took with your feelings.”

Reffitt was armed when he stormed the Capitol, carrying a holstered handgun along with zip tie handcuffs, body armor, and a helmet equipped with a video camera as he engaged with law enforcement outside the Capitol. He retreated when an officer used pepper spray against him, but he had previously urged other rioters to move forward, leading to a breach of the building.

Prosecutors revealed that Reffitt boasted to fellow members of the Texas Three Percenters militia about his intentions to forcibly remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from the Capitol, claiming he would drag her out by her ankles and that her head would hit every step on the way down. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler stated, “His objective was to overtake Congress, physically and with violence,” emphasizing that Reffitt himself referred to Congress as a “demon,” vowing to eliminate it.

Reffitt was convicted of a total of five counts, including a charge related to threats made against his teenage children after the riot. His son, Jackson, recounted how Reffitt warned that they would be traitors if they reported him and ominously stated, “traitors get shot.”

During the resentencing, Reffitt’s daughters portrayed him positively, describing him as a loving father who does not pose a threat to anyone.

Prosecutors noted that Reffitt’s recent communications from jail suggest he perceives his imprisonment as an injustice, viewing it as part of a broader cause, while expressing pride in his actions on January 6. Over 1,500 individuals have faced charges related to the Capitol riot, with approximately 1,000 having pleaded guilty, while around 250 have been convicted following trials.