The US department of justice inspector general, Michael Horowitz, has released a report discrediting claims that the FBI actively participated in or provoked the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
As per the news agency Reuters, the findings highlight that no undercover FBI agents were present, and none of the bureau’s informants were authorised to enter the Capitol or engage in violent acts during the riot.
The report counters far-right conspiracy theories suggesting FBI involvement, which have been promoted by supporters of President-elect Donald Trump, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Notably, James Ray Epps, an Arizona man charged with a misdemeanor for entering a restricted area, was falsely accused of being an FBI informant.
According to the report, 26 FBI informants were in Washington, D.C., on January 6, most attending protests on their own initiative. Of these, four entered restricted areas, with one entering the Capitol itself, but none acted on FBI instructions.
Many informants provided information ahead of the event, though the intelligence was not significantly different from other sources available to the FBI.
As per AP, the watchdog noted that the FBI failed to canvass all its field offices for intelligence—a basic step that could have enhanced preparations. Horowitz criticised the bureau’s oversight, especially considering the available warnings about potential violence, including a bulletin from the FBI’s Norfolk, Virginia, field office a day prior.
In response, FBI Director Chris Wray, who plans to step down at the end of President Biden’s term, defended the bureau’s actions. He highlighted efforts to disseminate intelligence, including sharing the Norfolk bulletin with Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies.
However, gaps remain evident, such as the FBI’s failure to notify Virginia police about reports of a “quick reaction force” planning to station weapons nearby.
Conspiracy theories and political fallout
The report also addresses baseless accusations by Republican lawmakers and right-wing figures claiming FBI agents disguised as Trump supporters instigated the violence.
FBI Director Wray previously dismissed these allegations as “ludicrous.” The findings underscore that while the FBI had informants on the ground, their actions were not directed by the bureau.
