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A report from the Department of Justice's inspector general revealed that 26 FBI informants were present in Washington, D.C., during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The report, released on Thursday (December 12), found no evidence of undercover FBI agents at the Capitol, countering claims that federal agents instigated the violence.
According to the report, three of the informants were specifically tasked by the FBI to monitor potential domestic terrorism subjects attending the events. One of these informants entered the Capitol, while the other two remained outside. The remaining 23 informants attended the events on their own initiative.
The inspector general noted that the FBI did not authorize any informants to break the law or encourage illegal acts. The report also criticized the FBI for not canvassing all field offices for intelligence, which could have helped law enforcement better prepare for the events of January 6. The inspector general found that the FBI inaccurately informed Congress about its intelligence-gathering efforts, though this was deemed unintentional.
The findings have sparked debate, with some Trump supporters continuing to claim that the FBI played a role in inciting the riot. However, FBI Director Christopher Wray has consistently denied these allegations, stating that the violence was not orchestrated by FBI sources or agents.
The report recommends that the FBI improve its procedures for assessing potential domestic security threats.