In a recent development, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on Saturday that the agency deployed hundreds of agents to the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, amidst the protest that turned violent. This statement contradicts former Director Christopher Wray's testimony to Congress, where he denied such claims. Patel accused Wray of misleading congressional leaders and the public regarding the agents' presence and activities.
According to Patel, speaking to Fox News Digital, the agents were deployed for crowd control after the Metropolitan Police declared a riot, an action he claims deviates from standard FBI protocol. This assertion raises questions about the FBI's response and the government's handling of the events that day.
The controversy stems from reports that 274 plainclothes FBI agents were on the Capitol grounds during the riot. Patel clarified that these agents were tasked with crowd control rather than being involved with events related to then-President Donald Trump's speech at the Ellipse that morning. An FBI official corroborated Patel's statement, indicating no FBI agents engaged in activities linked to Trump's speech.
As the news broke, President Trump responded on Truth Social, condemning Wray's testimony as "false" and suggesting that some agents may have acted as "agitators and insurrectionists." Trump called for the disclosure of the identities of the agents and details of their actions at the Capitol.
Patel highlighted the importance of agents coming forward to help uncover the truth, expressing a commitment to transparency and accountability within the FBI. He also pointed out the deployment included agents responding to pipe bombs discovered near the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters the previous night.
Further complicating matters, Patel noted the reluctance of many agents to engage in crowd control, which contradicted the FBI's training and standard operating procedures. The first agents reportedly arrived at the Capitol at around 2:30 p.m., after the riot had been declared, with more arriving later in the afternoon.
Patel criticized Wray's vague responses when questioned under oath, emphasizing the need for honesty and preparation when addressing Congress. The Department of Justice Inspector General previously reported the FBI had no undercover employees inciting violence at the Capitol, though 26 informants were present, with only three assigned by the FBI to the event, none authorized to break the law.
This distinction between operational agents and informants is crucial to understanding the scope and nature of the FBI's involvement on January 6. Patel concluded by emphasizing the systemic failures under Wray's leadership that the Jan. 6 deployment exposed, thanking the agents who are coming forward to aid in the ongoing investigation.
