January 6 rioter charged with bringing gun to US Capitol grounds, undercutting GOP claims that the pro-Trump mob was unarmed
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Prosecutors said in the new indictment that Reffitt carried a “deadly and dangerous weapon,” specifically a “semi-automatic handgun,” while he was unlawfully on Capitol grounds. He isn’t accused of entering the building itself. But it’s still against the law to breach the perimeter of the Capitol complex and storm past fences and barricades, which Reffitt was photographed doing.
Reffitt is charged with five crimes, including felony obstruction of Congress. He hasn’t entered a plea to the new indictment, but he previously pleaded not guilty to some of the same charges.
According to court documents from earlier in the case, Reffitt allegedly told his son and other family members that he “brought his gun with him” when he was storming the Capitol area.
The new indictment was filed days after a House oversight hearing about the attack where several Republicans used their time to push false narratives and even defend the rioters. Several GOP lawmakers specifically claimed that the rioters at the Capitol were “unarmed.”
“Defendants and the propagandists claim that this was an armed insurrection. But no guns were found, according to assistant director of FBI. Another lie debunked,” Republican Rep. Andy Biggs said.
Republicans also pressed FBI Director Chris Wray about the firearms issue at the hearing.
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