January 6 rioter freed after Trump’s pardon — but authorities say he should still be in jail
CNN
High-profile January 6 rioter Guy Reffitt showed up in Washington, DC, on Wednesday to celebrate with his wife and supporters who’d been hoping for his release from federal detention for months.
High-profile January 6 rioter Guy Reffitt showed up in Washington, DC, on Wednesday to celebrate with his wife and supporters who’d been hoping for his release from federal detention for months. But he should not have been walking free – even after President Donald Trump on Monday pardoned him and more than 1,200 others for January 6-related crimes. That’s because Reffitt was indicted on a charge of possessing an illegal gun silencer three years ago. A federal judge in Texas ordered him to remain in jail until he is tried in that case, where he has pleaded not guilty. After Trump’s pardon, his lawyer filed court papers to convince the judge to release him as he awaits trial. The judge hadn’t yet decided whether to release Reffitt. Contacted late this week by CNN, even his own attorney and some federal authorities believed Reffitt was and should still be in custody. Davilyn Walston, a spokesperson for the Justice Department in the Eastern District of Texas, said Friday that Reffitt should still be in detention because of the alleged firearms violation. Walston noted the indictment against Reffitt was still pending and that prosecutors were still pursuing the gun case.
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