FBI had no undercover agents at Jan. 6 riot, report finds
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A pro-Trump mob breaks into the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
There were no undercover FBI employees at the U.S. Capitol or rally at the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, according to a new watchdog report that further debunked conspiracy theories that law enforcement instigated the deadly riot.
The big picture: The report from Inspector General Michael Horowitz undercuts the false claim among President-elect Trump's supporters and allies that a covert intelligence effort facilitated the infamous attack to ensnare the MAGA movement.
Driving the news: The report revealed that 26 informants — "confidential human sources" who are not employed by the government — were in Washington, D.C., on January 6 in connection to the riot.
- Three of the informants had been tasked by FBI field offices to travel to D.C. to report on "domestic terrorism subjects" who may have been heading to the city for the certification of President Biden's election victory.
- The informants were not authorized to enter the Capitol or any restricted area or otherwise break the law that day, nor were they directed by the FBI to encourage others to break the law.
Yes, but: Two did enter the restricted area around the building, and a third entered the Capitol. Twenty-three other informants also traveled to D.C. on Jan. 6 — but not at the FBI's direction.
By the numbers: None of the informants who entered the Capitol or a restricted area have been prosecuted to date.
- Four of the 26 entered the Capitol, 13 entered the restricted area and nine were in D.C. for Jan. 6 events but did not engage in illegal activity or enter a restricted zone.
Zoom in: Many of the 26 sources provided information relevant to Jan. 6 before that day, and some passed along details as the riot occurred, per the report.
- Informants passed information on the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and other groups to the FBI. One person indicated having "concerns for the safety of Members of Congress."
- The report stated the informers did not provide any "potentially critical intelligence" to the FBI that had not been provided to or already known by law enforcement regarding possible violence ahead of Jan. 6.
Zoom out: The report concluded that the FBI took "significant and appropriate steps" to prepare ahead of Jan. 6, but that the agency should have canvassed field offices for additional information, including from informants, to help law enforcement better understand the threat.
- The inspector general's review found that the FBI falsely reported to Congress after the riot that it had directed field offices to canvass informants for details on any threats to the certification of Biden's win.
- But the investigation found the FBI's statements to lawmakers were not intentionally untrue, attributing the inaccuracy to "confusion" and a "lack of coordinated communications."
The other side: The FBI disagreed with "certain factual assertions" in the report regarding specific steps and the scope of its canvass, it said in a response to the inspector general's office.
The bottom line: The inspector general advised the FBI to assess its current preparation procedures ahead of events that it determines to present potential domestic security issues.
- The Department of Homeland Security, which makes such determinations, has designated the upcoming 2025 certification as a national special security event.
Go deeper: Trump downplays Jan. 6: "You had a peaceful transfer of power"
