1st trial of a U.S. Capitol riot defendant opens Monday in D.C.

guy reffitt
The U.S. government says in its affidavit that this photo shows Guy Reffitt rinsing his eyes outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, wearing a blue jacket over a tactical vest and a helmet with a camera. (Department of Justice)

Nearly 14 months after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, the first trial of a defendant charged in connection with the deadly attack opens Monday in federal court.

Guy Reffitt, a Texas man who authorities say belongs to the self-styled Three Percenter militia movement, is charged with five counts, including obstruction, civil disorder and entering Capitol grounds with a firearm. He has pleaded not guilty.

The trial in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., is a milestone in the Capitol riot investigation, which officials say is one of the largest and most complex in American history. So far, almost 750 people have been charged and around 220 have pleaded guilty. Of those, more than 100 have already been sentenced.