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Son, 18, In Hiding After Reporting Dad To FBI For Storming The Capitol

Son, 18, In Hiding After Reporting Dad To FBI For Storming The Capitol

He said although he feels guilty, he'd do it again

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

A teenager who told the FBI about his dad's role in the Capitol riots is in hiding - but despite feeling guilty said he would 'do it all again'.

Jackson Reffitt, 18, said he turned in his dad to protect his family.

Speaking to Fox4, Reffitt said: "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."

His dad, Guy Refffitt, 48, of Wylie, Texas, was arrested on Saturday 17 January.

FBI

He's been charged with obstruction of justice and unlawful entry, with his court records stating he was recorded on video outside the Capitol during the riot on 6 January.

He threatened his wife and kids if they turned him in.

Jackson told the FBI his father had said to him: "If you turn me in, you're a traitor and you know what happens to traitors. Traitors get shot."

He told the New York Times he wishes he could speak with his dad, but isn't staying in his family's home. He wouldn't say where he was because he fears for his safety.

PA

He said: "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.'"

The teenager contacted authorities in the days before the riots.

He told the news outlet: "He would always tell me that he's going to do something big. I didn't know what he was going to do, so I just did anything possible just to be on the safe side."

He told CNN he thinks that it's Donald Trump's fault, saying: "Obviously the man in charge at the time, I feel like, just really manipulated him into thinking what he is thinking now.

FBI

"I'm obviously not sure about that, but I can't know for sure. That's the only thing I can blame this - the politics he follows and idolises."

Dallas News gained access to an affidavit that states Reffitt Sr. told his family that he went to Washington 'to protect the country'. He allegedly took a gun with him and told them he 'stormed the Capitol'.

Photos taken on the day show Reffitt wearing a helmet with a camera fastened to it, he can also be seen wearing what is thought to be a bulletproof vest.

The FBI found an AR-15 rifle and a pistol when they searched his home. Reffitt's wife told agents he's a member of the Three Percenters movement - a far-right, anti-government militia movement.

Featured Image Credit: Fox4

Topics: US News