A recently uncovered after-action report has disclosed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) deployed more than 250 undercover agents to the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 riot. The 50-page document, which was not previously made public, reveals significant concerns among agents regarding officer safety, the adequacy of their equipment, and the bureau's preparedness for the event. The report was obtained by Just the News and has since been submitted to Congress.
According to the report, agents from the Washington Field Office (WFO) and other divisions criticized the FBI leadership for sending them into a volatile situation without proper protective gear or clear identification to distinguish themselves from other law enforcement agencies. One employee's frustration was evident in their statement,
"If you are going to deploy us to a riot situation, then give us the proper damn safety equipment—helmet, face shield, protective clothing—and training."
The document also highlights concerns over the bureau's perceived political bias. Several agents compared the FBI's handling of the January 6 events with the response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, noting what they saw as a stark contrast. One agent expressed their view on the hypocrisy displayed by the FBI and its leadership during these different events.
Criticism of the FBI's internal culture was also widespread among the agents. The report contains quotes from employees who felt that the bureau had become more concerned with image and political correctness than with its core mission of crime-fighting. This sentiment was echoed by another employee who lamented that the FBI had been used as pawns in a political war, with leadership allowing it to happen.
The report's revelation of the undercover agents' presence at the Capitol could also have legal implications. Experts have suggested that defendants might challenge their convictions on the grounds that they were unaware FBI personnel were witnessing events firsthand.
The current FBI Director Kash Patel's team discovered the report and provided it to Congress, leading to renewed scrutiny of the bureau's actions on January 6. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Jan. 6 subcommittee chairman Barry Loudermilk have pledged to investigate the findings. They are seeking answers on whether the courts were informed of the agents' presence and the nature of their tasks during the riot.
Former FBI Director Chris Wray, who had testified about the bureau's response, has rejected claims of political bias. Wray defended his position before Congress in 2023, emphasizing his personal background as a counterargument to the allegations of partisanship.
The after-action report paints a picture of an FBI grappling with operational missteps, internal culture challenges, and a crisis of public trust. It sheds light on previously unknown details about the FBI's controversial role during one of the most contentious days in recent U.S. history.
