A federal oversight body might have finally dispelled a MAGA assertion that the insurrection at Capitol Hill on January 6 was instigated by federal operatives.
The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General revealed in a report released on Thursday that the FBI had a minimum of 26 informants present in Washington, D.C., on January 6; however, no evidence was found to indicate the existence of undercover agents.
The office indicated that four of these informants were inside the Capitol building during the chaos, while 13 accessed restricted areas. According to the report, nine of these individuals did not engage in any illegal actions.
The findings further stated that the FBI had taken “significant and appropriate measures in preparation” for January 6. “Although the FBI was primarily a support entity regarding the preparation for and reaction to the events of January 6, it acknowledged the prospect of violence and enacted substantial and suitable precautions for this supportive role,” the report elaborated.
Informants gathered intelligence on the activities of right-wing factions such as the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. However, the report noted that “confusion and a lack of coordination” led to an “inaccurate” FBI summary provided to Congress.
“If you’re inquiring whether the violence at the Capitol on January 6 stemmed from some operation masterminded by FBI sources and/or agents, the answer is a definitive no,” asserted FBI Director Christopher Wray to Congressional members last November, following a surge of unfounded theories pushed by several Republican representatives.
“This violence was not orchestrated by FBI sources or agents,” Wray reiterated.
“It goes without saying, but I’ll state it again—this is not a simple matter for me,” he expressed. “I have deep affection for this institution, our mission, and our personnel—but my priority is, and has always been, our integrity and what is right for the FBI.”
Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, assumed control of the agency after the former president dismissed his predecessor, James Comey, due to the investigation into potential Russian influence in the 2016 election. Nevertheless, Wray’s tenure failed to earn him any favor with Trump, either.
On Wednesday, Wray disclosed his intention to resign from his position as director, shortly after Trump announced his plans to nominate MAGA loyalist Kash Patel as his replacement.
