Who is Jackson Reffitt? Texas teen in hiding after turning over Capitol rioter dad to FBI for threatening family
There has been a development in the case of Guy Reffitt, the Capitol rioter who was arrested after his teenage son alerted the FBI about his father's alleged role in the riots. Although he said he was guilty of speaking with law enforcement authorities, Jackson Reffitt said he "would do it all again". The most recent update comes from the New York Times stating the boy was no longer staying at his family home and would not reveal his location for safety concerns.
"I would say I'm sorry, because I don't feel like I put him in this situation, but I still feel guilty. I would do it again," he told the site. We had previously reported that 48-year-old Guy reportedly threatened to shoot his own children if they turned him in and called them "traitors". He is now the fourth North-Texan accused of being part of the mob that stormed the Capitol.
Guy was arrested by the FBI over the weekend. There is no update on whether Jackson and the rest of the family members would get any protection from law enforcement agencies.
The concern comes after Guy's wife's account detailed what happened in the aftermath of the riots. She told officials that Guy was arguing with his kids saying: "If you turn me in, you're a traitor and you know what happens to traitors... Traitors get shot." The 18-year-old Jackson also told NYT his father was talking about "going to do something big."
"I got in contact with the FBI after the Capitol riots about my dad. It was my moral compass, kind of, to do what I thought would protect not only my family but my dad himself," Jackson was quoted saying. "If you were to write down that quote and give it to anyone, ever, it would never be OK," Jackson added. "He said, ‘Choose a side’, is mainly the quote I use from him to express my views on it, is just, ‘Choose a side’ and 'Choose a side or die'," according to a CNN report.
Guy worked in the oil business and has been trying to start a private security company, Jackson revealed. Over a phone call, he revealed more details about his father. He also recalled a time roughly five years ago when his father was a different man. Over the four years of the former President Trump administration, Guy reportedly became increasingly obsessed with politics and even signed up with a far-right militia group known as the Three Percenters.
According to an affidavit that was obtained by Dallas News, Guy had told his family that he went to Washington DC "to protect the country". He added that he had brought a gun with him and had "stormed the Capitol". He had allegedly told his daughter he would "put a bullet through her phone" if she betrayed him and the family. The other Norths Texans apart from Guy are Jenna Ryan, Troy Smocks and Larry Brock. Over 125 have been arrested so far.