A new report from the U.S. Department of Justice found that while over two dozen FBI informants were in Washington DC during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, no undercover agents were involved.
The FBI says its informants were not allowed to enter the Capitol or join the riot, but four informants did enter the building.
These informants were providing information for investigations into domestic terrorism, and some were connected to far-right groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
Although the FBI had identified the potential for violence that day, the report criticized the agency for not fully utilizing its field offices to gather more intelligence, which could have helped in preventing the riot.
Some Republicans have pushed conspiracy theories suggesting the FBI played a role in organizing the riot, but this report shows that the FBI’s role was limited to gathering information through its informants.
Over 1,500 people have been charged for their involvement in the riot, including hundreds for assaulting police officers.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has promised to pardon most of the rioters once he returns to office, despite ongoing arrests by the Justice Department.
BBC explains that the FBI’s oversight in gathering intelligence beforehand has raised questions about its effectiveness in preventing such events.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn850jj44mjo