The First Jan. 6 Defendant To Go To Trial Was Found Guilty On All Counts

Reffitt's own words were the focus of much of the government's case. Prosecutors read aloud text messages that Reffitt sent to his family and members of the Texas Three Percenters, where he discussed his plans to go to DC and his desire to remove members of Congress. The jury was shown footage from a camera that Reffitt attached to his helmet and wore to the "Stop the Steal" rally near the White House.

A collection of videos from different angles show a person in a blue jacket, identified as Reffitt, slowly making his way up a railing on the west side of the Capitol with a large crowd behind him. Reffitt told his family that he had to stop after being sprayed with pepper spray. He was described as the tip of the mob's spear by prosecutors, who said that he led the crowd up during the initial breach of the steps.

Jackson Reffitt, Guy Reffitt's 19-year-old son, was a key witness for the government. Jackson's father secretly recorded Reffitt talking about his experience after he returned home, and continued to cooperate with the FBI. Jackson talked about how he didn't regret coming forward because he didn't want his father to hurt his family, but because it had damaged his relationship with his family.

Reffitt was accused of threatening Jackson and his daughter after he returned home. Jackson told the jury that Reffitt told them that traitors would get shot if they turned him in. The prosecutors decided not to call Peyton as a witness on the last day of testimony, but they didn't give a reason.

Nicole Reffitt was at court for the trial. Reffitt smiled and blew his daughter a kiss when she entered the courtroom after she was no longer a potential witness.

The government's other central witness was a former member of the Texas Three Percenters, who traveled to DC with Reffitt. As long as it followed the Constitution, the group believed in supporting law enforcement and the government. Reffitt sent texts justifying the use of force to remove what he believed was a corrupt legislative branch, but he also talked about wanting to remove Republicans like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Senate Minority LeaderMitch.

Hardie testified that he and Reffitt each brought a rifle and handgun to Washington, left the assembled rifles in the car at their hotel and walked downtown. After Donald Trump spoke at the "Stop the Steal" rally, he was separated from Reffitt and didn't see him again until later in the afternoon, but remained in radio contact.

He made his way onto the Capitol grounds with his gun, but hasn't been charged yet. He said that the immunity agreement he signed with the government didn't shield him against prosecution completely, but it meant that the government couldn't use anything he said or any evidence he turned over in connection with his agreement against him.

The jury heard from a Capitol Police officer who was crying as she described being in the command when they confronted Reffitt on a stairway outside the west side of the building.

The jury was shown a picture that appeared to show Reffitt at the Capitol taken from a video recorded by a journalist. The holster on Reffitt's hip and the silver metallic linear object that prosecutors contend was Reffit were identified by Hightower. The jury saw the gun and rifle that the FBI seized during a search of Reffitt's home.

The jury saw a tactical vest and large plastic handcuffs that Reffitt brought.

Hundreds of pending cases are expected to be affected by the outcome of Reffitt's case. Many of the defendants facing prosecution for their roles in the attack on the Capitol are facing the same charges as Reffitt. All of these cases have the same government evidence of the Capitol breach. Reffitt's trial gave other defendants and their lawyers a first look at how prosecutors planned to present the insurrection to jurors.

More than four dozen defendants will go to trial throughout the rest of the year. More than 220 defendants have pleaded guilty.