An ex-police officer testified against his former supervisor and mentor — nicknamed 'dad' — at a January 6 trial

During their time as police officers, they referred to each other as "dad" and "son".

Jacob Fracker, a former police officer in Virginia, came to Washington, DC, to testify against his former supervisor, Thomas Robertson.

Robertson is on trial, facing charges stemming from the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Fracker said at the beginning of his testimony that he hated this.

He said that he has always been on the other side of things.

Fracker identified his onetime colleague in video footage from January 6 after he testified for two hours. The two wore gas masks and Robertson carried a stick that has become a point of contention at his trial.

Robertson's lawyers argue that he entered the Capitol to get Fracker. Robertson is accused of using the wooden stick as a baton to block the Capitol police. His defense team said it was a walking stick.

In her questioning, federal prosecutor Risa Berkower tried to undermine the claims from Robertson's team.

If Robertson told Fracker he only went inside the Capitol to retrieve him, he was unaware of that.

After leaving the Capitol, Fracker said it was the same as he was: excited.

Berkower tried to show that the stick was not just for walking, as Robertson's defense lawyer said in her opening argument Tuesday.

Fracker was asked if Robertson was leaning on the stick.

Six federal charges

Fracker and Robertson were arrested by the FBI a week after January 6, 2021. Fracker pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to obstruct the joint session of Congress that gathered on January 6 to certify Joe Biden's electoral victory.

Fracker agreed to testify against Robertson as part of the plea deal.

Robertson is accused of disorderly conduct and obstruction of an official proceeding. He was accused of destroying cell phones to make the criminal investigation harder.

Fracker recalled giving his cell phone to Robertson before they turned themselves in at the police station. Fracker flashed a middle finger while taking a selfies on his phone.

Fracker testified that he was terrified about the videos and pictures on it.

Fracker said he was proud of his involvement in the Capitol attack.

He testified that he felt like they had been heard by whoever it was that they needed to be heard.

Fracker said Wednesday that he was afraid of his actions and was facing prison time.

He said that he wasn't raised like that.

Fracker is going to be cross-examined by the defense team. The Justice Department will call two more witnesses at the end of the proceedings on Wednesday and then rest its case on Thursday.

Fracker wants to get credit for his cooperation and a lighter sentence.

On Wednesday, that cooperation meant testifying against a former colleague.

Fracker said that he got most of his knowledge from him.