Almost four years to the day since his father was arrested for his role in the January 6 congressional riot, Jackson Rafitt watched in complete shock as President Donald Trump signed an executive order commuting the sentences of his father and about 1,500 other rioters. gave .
Rafit has spent most of the past four years in hiding, constantly moving every few months. He was the one who tipped off the FBI about his father’s involvement in the riot. Jackson’s father, Guy Raffitt, was a member of the Texas Three Percenters when he stormed the Capitol in body armor, armed with a pistol and a zipper. He was filmed urging other rioters to storm the Capitol, telling members of his militia that he was going to drag House Speaker Nancy Pelosi out of the building by her ankles, “with her head in every corner.” He takes a step down.”
Trump himself has given him a presidential pardon so that he can be released. “This credit is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that he’ll never have again,” Raffitt tells WIRED. I can’t imagine what he’s willing to do now. It could get a hell of a lot worse.”
Rafit is terrified of what is about to happen and has armed herself with a rifle and a rifle to protect herself and her boyfriend. Over the past few years, she has been targeted, harassed and threatened online.
Since Trump pardoned everyone, the threats have intensified.
“[In the last 24 hours] The situation is worse than ever, Rafit tells WIRED. “I think it’s just because, again, the endorsement that Trump provides emboldens people to say ugly, hateful things.”
Rafit is not the only family member of an inmate released Jan. 6 to worry about the ramifications of Trump’s amnesty. Tasha Adams, the ex-wife of Oath Leader Stuart Rhodes, who had her 22-year sentence commuted for Trump’s seditious conspiracy, is also worried about what’s going on. “Stewart is out of jail now and honestly, I could really use some funding if it comes to that,” Adams wrote on his GoFundMe page Tuesday, hours after his ex-husband was released from prison.
The investigation into the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol building became the largest in the history of the Department of Justice and destroyed many far-right militant groups in the country. But with a stroke of the pen on Monday night, Trump reinvigorated the militia movement, freeing its most prominent figures, including Rhodes and the brash boy leader Enrique Tario.
“One of the things I’m most concerned about is the risk of a stronger return of the gangs that disappeared after J6, especially since many of them have received reduced sentences or full amnesty,” said Luke Baumgartner, a researcher at George Washington University. are placed program on extremism “I wouldn’t be shocked if Oath Keepers start showing up more and see the Pride Boys ramp up their culture war tactics, especially against the LGBTQ community, as we’ve seen before. Their leaders are free, They have a lot of catching up to do and probably feel entitled.
Do you have a tip?
Are you a family member of a prisoner who will be released on January 6? We want to hear from you. Using a non-working phone or computer, contact David Gilbert at [email protected] or securely on Signal at DavidGilbert.01.
Guy Raffitt was the first rioter to stand trial for his actions on January 6 and was initially sentenced to seven years and three months, which was reduced to seven months in December after a High Court ruling dismissed the obstruction charge. against him
“I am a very strong patriot, with legendary support for the patriot warriors as we navigate troubled waters,” Raffitt wrote to an acquaintance from prison.
