A report released on Thursday by the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz has debunked persistent conspiracy theories alleging that FBI agents were involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The findings unequivocally confirm that there is no evidence to support claims that undercover FBI operatives participated in the riot or were involved in orchestrating the events.
The DOJ’s watchdog report puts to rest false claims that FBI agents played a role in the violence that erupted when supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol. Horowitz’s investigation found no evidence that FBI agents or informants participated in the attack or engaged in violent activities on January 6.
The Inspector General’s office further clarified that the FBI did not authorize its informants to enter the Capitol building or participate in any unlawful actions. Despite this clear conclusion, conspiracy theories around the FBI’s role in the Capitol attack continue to circulate, with figures like former Fox News host Tucker Carlson falsely accusing individuals, including Arizona resident James Ray Epps, of being FBI operatives. Epps, who was involved in the Capitol breach, was charged with a misdemeanor for entering a restricted building but was never found to be part of any covert operation.
While the report clears the FBI of any wrongdoing during the Capitol insurrection, it also highlights areas where the agency could have been more proactive. Horowitz noted that the FBI could have done more to prepare for the potential threat by better utilizing its network of informants in the lead-up to January 6.
According to the report, 26 FBI informants were present in Washington, D.C., on the day of the Capitol attack. Of these, three were tasked with monitoring individuals involved in domestic terrorism investigations, and one of them entered the Capitol building while two others entered restricted areas around the Capitol. The remaining 23 informants attended the protests independently, without direction from the FBI.
The report also detailed the FBI’s surveillance of far-right extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, which were at the forefront of the Capitol attack. Several of the informants mentioned in the report were assigned to gather intelligence on these groups. Key leaders from both organizations—such as Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio—were later convicted of serious crimes, including seditious conspiracy, for their roles in the January 6 events.
While the Inspector General’s report clears the FBI of any involvement in the insurrection itself, it underscores the critical role played by informants in gathering intelligence on the groups responsible for the attack.
In response to the findings, the FBI acknowledged the Inspector General’s recommendations and pledged to enhance its procedures for monitoring domestic security threats in the future. The agency expressed its commitment to improving its operations to better prepare for events that could pose a risk to national security.
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