DOJ IG reveals 26 FBI informants were present on Jan. 6
FOX News6 days
Report: FBI Had 26 Informants at Jan. 6 Capitol Riots, Missed Key Intel Steps
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The Facts
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General on Thursday released a report revealing that 26 FBI confidential human sources were present in Washington, DC during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots. Four entered the building, while 13 accessed restricted areas.
While the FBI recognized potential violence and took significant preparatory steps, the bureau failed to canvass its 56 field offices for intelligence before Jan. 6, which FBI deputy director Paul Abate described as a "basic step that was missed."
The Spin
Democratic narrative
The FBI made some mistakes in the lead-up to Jan. 6, 2021, and it takes responsibility for its inability to stop — or at least reduce — the violence that day. But this report should put an end to the conspiracy theories spread by Pres.-elect Trump and his allies about FBI undercover agents leading the charge and entrapping those who fought law enforcement agents and vandalized the Capitol.
Republican narrative
This report doesn't debunk any of the theories around entrapment, it just raises more questions. If the informants who violated the law weren't present under FBI orders, then they should've been charged with the thousands of others. The fact that these FBI assets still could've been riling up the crowd is good news for those charged with crimes and their defense attorneys.
