It’s been almost four years since then his father was arrested for his part in January 6 riots in the CapitolJackson Reffitt watches in complete shock as President Donald Trump signs an executive order sentences were pardoned and commuted for his father and about 1,500 other insurrectionists.

Reffitt has spent most of the past four years in hiding, often moving every few months. He is the man who informed the FBI about his father’s involvement in the insurrection. Jackson’s father, Guy Reffitt, was a member of the Texas Three Percenter group when he stormed the Capitol wearing body armor and carrying a pistol and a zip tie. He was caught on camera urging other rioters to attack the Capitol building and telling members of his militia group that he intended to drag House Speaker Nancy Pelosi out of the building by her ankles, “which his head was hit with every step down.”

“Trump himself gave him a presidential pardon to set him free. That validation is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience that he’ll never get again,” Reffitt told WIRED. “I can’t imagine what he’s willing to do now. It could be worse.”

Reffitt was “terrified” about what would happen next, and armed himself with a handgun and a rifle to protect himself and his girlfriend. Over the past few years, she has been targeted, harassed and threatened online.

Since Trump has pardoned everyone, the threats have become more serious.

“(In the last 24 hours) it’s worse than ever,” Reffitt told WIRED. “I think it’s just because, again, the validation that Trump brings just makes people more emboldened to say some nasty, disgusting shit.”

Reffitt isn’t the only family member of an inmate released Jan. 6 worried about the fallout from Trump’s pardons. Tasha Adams, the ex-wife of Oath Keeper leader Stewart Rhodes who had her 22-year sentence for seditious conspiracy commuted by Trump, is also worried about what will happen. “Stewart’s out of jail now and, frankly, I could really use a little running money, if it comes to that,” Adams wrote on her GoFundMe page on Tuesday, a few hours after her ex-husband was released from prison.

The investigation into the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol has become the largest in the history of the Justice Department, and has left many far-right militia groups in the country devastated. But with a pen stroke Monday night, Trump reinvigorated the militia movement, freeing its most prominent figures, including Rhodes and Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio.

“One of the things I worry about is the risk of the groups that collapsed after J6 coming back stronger, especially since many of them commuted their sentences or were pardoned,” said Luke Baumgartner. , a research fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the Oath Keepers start making more appearances, and see the Proud Boys step up their culture war tactics, especially against the LGBTQ community, like we’ve seen in the past. Their leaders are free, they have a lot of room, and they probably feel vindicated.

Got a tip?

Are you a family member of a January 6 inmate who was released? We want to hear from you. Using a non-work phone or computer, contact David Gilbert at [email protected] or safe on Signal at DavidGilbert.01

Guy Reffitt was the first rioter to go on trial for his actions on January 6 and initially received a sentence of seven years and three months, which was reduced to seven months in December following a Supreme Court ruling that led to the overturn. on an obstruction charge. against him.

“I’m a very strong Patriot, with fabulous support from Patriot Warriors, as we navigate troubled waters,” Reffitt wrote to an acquaintance from prison in a text message submitted to the prosecution during his sentencing in December.