Jan. 6 defendant becomes first to face firearms charge under riot law

A defendant in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol is the first to face a firearms charge under a riot law making it unlawful to carry a firearm while rioting.

Guy Wesley Reffitt of Texas was arrested in January after his wife told the FBI that he threatened to shoot their family if they turned him in.

Reffitt pleaded not guilty in March to obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; as well as obstruction of justice by hindering communication through physical force or threat of physical force.

In a superseding indictment on Wednesday, he was issued the additional charge of having a firearm with him at the Capitol.