Trump Accuses FBI of Involvement in January 6 Capitol Riot

Former President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) by accusing the agency of having a role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. Trump’s remarks, made on social media, claimed that the FBI had “secretly placed” 274 agents among the crowd that stormed the Capitol. This assertion comes as he seeks to downplay the violence perpetrated by the mob of his supporters during the attack aimed at disrupting the certification of Joe Biden‘s 2020 election victory.

On his platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, “It was just revealed that the FBI had secretly placed, against all Rules, Regulations, Protocols, and Standards, 274 FBI Agents into the Crowd just prior to, and during, the January 6th Hoax.” He suggested that these agents acted not as law enforcement but as “Agitators and Insurrectionists,” calling for transparency regarding their identities and actions on that day.

Reports in right-leaning media have fueled Trump’s claims by conflating the FBI’s actual response with conspiracy theories. While the FBI did send agents to assist the overwhelmed Capitol Police in restoring order, these reports suggest a narrative of undercover agents inciting the violence. The Justice Department’s inspector general had previously reported that hundreds of FBI agents responded to the Capitol, addressing threats including pipe bombs and a vehicle loaded with explosives outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

An important detail highlighted in the inspector general’s report indicated that 26 FBI confidential sources were present among the crowd, though they were not acting under orders from the bureau to engage in unlawful behavior. None of these sources informed the FBI of their attendance at the Capitol that day.

In response to Trump’s accusations, the FBI clarified that the 274 agents were deployed only after the riot began, aiming to help control the crowd. Kash Patel, a former aide to Trump, criticized former FBI Director Christopher Wray for his lack of transparency during congressional testimony. He remarked, “Agents were sent into a crowd control mission after the riot was declared by Metro Police—something that goes against FBI standards. This was the failure of a corrupt leadership that lied to Congress and to the American people about what really happened.”

Patel’s comments reflect broader concerns regarding the FBI’s operational protocols during the incident. An FBI official reiterated that there is no evidence to suggest that any agents were involved in the events surrounding Trump’s speech at the Ellipse earlier that morning. They also noted that Wray should have disclosed the presence of these agents when questioned by Congress.

As the fallout from the January 6 riots continues, Trump’s allegations against the FBI serve to further polarize public opinion. The ongoing debate over the agency’s role and the actions of various officials during that tumultuous day remains a focal point in discussions surrounding the Capitol attack and its aftermath.