An 18-year-old boy who reported his father to the FBI after discovering his father and friends had plans to—and eventually did—storm the United States Capitol on January 6 in support of President Donald Trump, began raising funds for both his safety and education.
After being threatened by his father, he feared he would be kicked out of both his house and school when his father was arrested.
Guy Jackson Reffitt, son of insurrectionist Guy W. Reffitt, contacted the FBI weeks before the now-infamous Capitol riot.
"He would always tell me that he's going to do something big," Reffitt—who goes by Jackson—told The New York Times. "I assumed he was going to do something big, and I didn't know what."
Jackson's father, Guy, also reportedly threatened to shoot anybody in the family who reported his illegal actions.
"If you turn me in, you're a traitor and you know what happens to traitors... Traitors get shot."
Despite this, Jackson turned in his father again after he was photographed and filmed participating in the riot because it felt like the right thing to do.
After receiving overwhelming support online, he began a GoFundMe page.
"Every penny is another course in college or me saving it for years to come," he wrote on the GoFundMe.
"I might be kicked out of my house due to my involvement in my dad's case, so every cent might help me survive."
Reffitt surpassed his initial goal of $100,000 rather quickly.
In an interview with Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, Reffitt said his "moral compass" lead him to turn in his father, who he believes is being manipulated by far-right propaganda.
He has "no regrets" and "would do it again."
Reffitt's GoFundMe has now raised over $133,000.
With over 14,000 followers on Twitter, he is also using his platform to debunk conspiracy theories and extremist ideas.
Ironically, Reffitt's major is political science.
If you would like to make a donation, the GoFundMe can be found here.
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