A Texas militia member who is the first person to be tried for the assault on the U.S. Capitol “lit the match that started the fire,” a prosecutor said Wednesday during the trial’s opening statements.
WASHINGTON —
A verdict in Reffitt’s trial could have an enormous impact on hundreds of other riot cases. A conviction would give prosecutors more leverage to cut plea deals with others facing the most serious charges. An acquittal could embolden other riot defendants to seek more favorable plea terms or gamble on trials of their own.
Before they advanced, Reffitt used a megaphone to shout at police to stand down and step aside and to urge the mob to push forward and overtake officers, Nestler said.Nestler said Reffitt brought the police-style cuffs with him so that he could restrain any members of Congress that he encountered. But he wasn’t one of the hundreds of rioters who entered the building.
Prosecutors say photos and video of Reffitt during the riot show what appears to be a silver object in a handgun holster on his right hip. Welch has said no videos or photos show a gun in Reffitt’s possession at the Capitol. The siege resulted in the deaths of five people, including a police officer. More than 100 officers were injured. Rioters caused over $1 million in damage.
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