Americans watched in horror. Then colleagues, friends, and family members began pointing out the faces of people they knew, with whom they had shared vacations, and, in the midst of a national security crisis, began reporting them to federal officials.
While the motivations of the tipsters are unknown, Nathaniel Herr, associate professor of psychology at American University in Washington, DC, said many likely felt compelled to do something after authorities called for help.
“When the FBI is on the phone, it feels like, ‘Here’s a legit place where I can finally report what has been bothering me for a long time,'” Herr told CNN. “I bet that, in the experience of many reporters, it was something that had been brewing for a while and now it was like, ‘Okay, someone is asking me for help’.”
‘Choose a side or die’
Jackson Reffitt told authorities that he had heard his father admit that he had gone to the Capitol to “protect the country” and that he had taken his gun. According to the affidavit, he said Guy Reffitt had told them the FBI was now watching him. The son also told investigators his father said he would do “what he had to do” if Jackson Reffitt reported him to authorities, the affidavit said.
Guy Reffitt also threatened his daughter, telling her that if she posted his comments on social media, he would “shoot a bullet” through her phone, the affidavit said, citing what Jackson Reffitt had told investigators. According to the document, Guy Reffitt’s wife did not believe he would act on his words.
Nicole Reffitt, Guy Reffitt’s wife, told CNN in a statement that she stands next to her family, calling Reffitt a “loving husband, devoted father, loyal friend, and passionate patriot.”
“Many statements have been taken out of context,” Nicole Reffitt said in the statement. “I want it to be clear that no one who was present during the conversation in question ever felt they were in danger or felt threatened. We have texts to prove this.”
Some were irritated, she said, “but they never feared for their safety.”
“Our home has always been an open door for people who need a warm bed, rest or a simple hug. Our home welcomes all people of all colors, beliefs and opinions,” her statement said. “Guy in particular listens to everyone and tries to understand all sides.”
Sarah Reffitt, Guy Reffitt’s 23-year-old daughter, told CNN that her father “would never hurt anyone,” adding that she feels “betrayed” by Jackson Reffitt’s statements.
“My father is a good man who would always help someone in need, regardless of political stance, religion or ethnicity,” she said.
“I feel disappointed in him for having made that decision, even to go there and risk his life and endanger others and put his family in this situation,” Jackson Reffitt told Cuomo. “It may be my fault talking to the authorities, but I don’t want to think so. He’s grown up and made his own decisions. ‘
His ex-wife told the FBI she recognized him in a photo.
“I just know when I saw this happening I was afraid he would be there,” she told authorities, according to the affidavit. “I think you already know he was there. It’s such a good picture of him and I recognize his patch. ‘
Brock has been charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a confined building or property without legal authority and a count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. CNN has contacted Brock and his attorney but has not heard.
A gradual change for some
For some tipsters, the riots were the culmination of a mind-boggling descent fueled by conspiracy theories and social media radicalization.
But it’s not easy to flag the behavior of a family member or friend, experts say, especially when many aren’t sure if those activities will lead to violence.
“In the aftermath of all these international terrorism cases that we would see, even people in the US, again and again the relatives, the friends said the same thing: ‘I saw something that seemed unusual but I didn’t know what it meant or what it was and I didn’t really want to confront that person, “said Javed Ali, a former senior counter-terrorism director at the National Security Council.” I think you see the same phenomena at play here. ”
Jackson Reffitt said the past four years he watched his father “snow”, become more active online and become more involved with groups including “far-right extremists”.
“He’s been a lot more, I don’t want to say aggressive, but a lot more scared,” said Jackson Reffitt.
“He would never say the things he did to me a few years ago … not once would he even think of something like that,” he added.
Similar stories are being circulated about the allegations made by federal authorities.
CNN contacted Strong and his attorney but has not heard.
“ As someone who looked at this phenomenon of radicalization more on the side of international terrorism, and looked at how people were radicalized or mobilized into violence in the same way as what happened on the sixth, from the al-Qaeda ideology and the ISIS ideology. are many parallels with that world, ‘Ali said.
The fact that there were so many reports to the FBI about loved ones shows, he added, that people’s “antennae were on” and that they saw things that “made them think twice about the person who they eventually gave up. “