Washington, D.C. — A recent report from the Justice Department’s inspector general has revealed that the FBI fell short in its intelligence gathering leading up to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. The investigation indicated that not a single undercover FBI agent was present during the riot, nor were any informants authorized to engage in any illegal activities that day.
This report serves to dispel a conspiracy theory propagated by certain Republican lawmakers suggesting that the FBI was somehow involved in inciting the violence as rioters attempted to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden. Released nearly four years after this pivotal incident in American history, the review examines ongoing concerns regarding possible intelligence failures that preceded the riot. This inquiry is among several investigations that seek clarity on events from that day, which has sparked congressional inquiries and led to multiple indictments at both federal and state levels.
The document offers a nuanced assessment of the FBI’s actions before the riot, acknowledging that the agency did prepare for potential unrest and sought to identify individuals classified as “domestic terrorism subjects.” However, it identified a significant oversight by the FBI, which failed to consult informants across its 56 field offices for actionable intelligence prior to January 6. This oversight was deemed a “basic step that was missed” and could have aided in better preparation for the tumultuous day, according to the findings.
While it was noted that 26 FBI informants were in Washington on the day of the election-related protests, including three who were specifically assigned to report on the planned gatherings, the report clarified that four informants entered the Capitol without any authorization from the bureau to do so. Moreover, despite some informants providing information before the event, this intelligence was general and did not provide any new insights beyond what the FBI had already obtained from other sources.
In response to these findings, the FBI released a statement acknowledging the inspector general’s recommendations for potential improvements in intelligence processes for future events. Following the insurrection, the FBI faced scrutiny regarding its failure to act on intelligence, notably a January 5, 2021, bulletin from its Norfolk office which warned of possible violence at the Capitol. The report affirmed that this bulletin was adequately circulated among relevant parties.
FBI Director Chris Wray has defended the agency’s actions, asserting that intelligence about the potential threats was communicated effectively to both Capitol and Metropolitan Police. He outlined that the information had been shared multiple times, underscoring the agency’s commitment to transparency and cooperation with law enforcement partners.
The inspector general’s report further revealed that the New Orleans field office had received credible information about a planned “quick reaction force” by some protesters. This intelligence was communicated to various law enforcement agencies the day before the riot; however, there was no indication that local police in northern Virginia were informed. An FBI official characterized the information as “nothing actionable or immediately concerning.”
Weapons found in a Virginia hotel linked to the so-called “quick reaction force” became a critical element in legal proceedings against leaders of the Oath Keepers militia group, who faced charges related to seditious conspiracy. Conspiracy theories surrounding the federal government’s supposed entrapment of rioters have circulated within conservative groups, with some lawmakers hinting at involvement from undercover agents.
Examples of this speculation include comments from Rep. Clay Higgins, who recently suggested that agents disguised as Trump supporters may have incited the violence. Another prominent figure, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, previously inquired about the presence of undercover agents during the Capitol breach. During a recent congressional hearing, Wray was hesitant to disclose the number of FBI informants among those gathered at the Capitol, yet he firmly denounced the suggestion of FBI orchestration of the violence as “ludicrous.”
In a notable incident, an FBI informant testified during the trial of former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, describing their experience marching to the Capitol alongside extremist members. Although this informant was present during the chaos, they were not engaged in any of the Telegram communications that allegedly facilitated the planning of the violent acts leading up to January 6.
