An 18 year old Texas man who gave the FBI information about his father’s alleged role in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol is speaking out. Jackson told ABC News that he wants other people to know “it’s OK to come forward.”
In an interview with T.J. Holmes that aired on Good Morning America, Jackson said he is now in hiding and has cut ties with his family. He told ABC that he feels the political strain has been awful for some families, and that he still feels responsible for what his father did.
Jackson said his father warned the family that anyone who turned him in would be a traitor, and that traitors get shot. He added that he does not believe his father would ever actually harm him, but that he worried about where extremist messaging might lead him next.
His father was arrested by the FBI at the family’s home in Wylie, Texas, on January 15. He is charged with unlawful entry on restricted Capitol grounds and obstruction of justice. Those charges are allegations, and he has not been convicted.
The FBI would not confirm to ABC News whether Jackson called the agency. However, an FBI affidavit obtained by the network says he provided information. According to the affidavit, his father told him he had been among those who entered the Capitol, that he brought a gun, and that he recorded events with a helmet camera.
Nicole, Jackson’s father’s wife, told ABC News she stands with her family. She described her husband as a loving husband, devoted father, loyal friend and passionate patriot, and said no one present during the disputed conversation felt threatened, though some were annoyed.
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