A recent Department of Justice Inspector General report revealed that 26 FBI confidential human sources attended the January 6 Capitol protests according to Breitbart.
The report, released by Inspector General Michael Horowitz on Thursday, scrutinized the FBI's utilization of confidential human sources (CHSs) during the events of January 6. It detailed the roles of these informants, who were present outside the Capitol as the protests unfolded.
According to the findings, only three CHSs were directly assigned by the FBI to attend the protests.
Reportedly none of those informants were authorized or directed to enter restricted areas, engage in illegal acts, or incite others to do so. However, there is little way to prove the conduct of those actors.
The revelation that the protestors were seeded with dozens of FBI informants further fuels speculation that the FBI played a role in the protest turning violent.
The Inspector General’s report clarifies that the FBI played a supporting role during the Capitol protests.
This limited role was influenced by the security classification assigned by the Department of Homeland Security, which did not consider the event as warranting the highest level of security.
The FBI's minor role included preparatory measures, despite not being the principal agency responsible for intelligence collection or security that day. The report noted that the FBI had taken steps to prepare for its supportive functions, though it was not in charge of leading the security efforts.
Further details reveal that three FBI field offices had tasked CHSs to report on individuals considered as domestic terrorism subjects, who were planning to attend the Electoral Certification protests. Each CHS was assigned specific reporting tasks related to these subjects.
The release of the report has stirred reactions among lawmakers, notably from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Representative Thomas Massie. They expressed concerns regarding the FBI's use of CHSs during the Capitol protests, critiquing the agency for its handling of these sources.
Jim Jordan commented on the report, stating, “This report confirms what we suspected. The FBI had encouraged and tasked confidential human sources to be at the Capitol that day. There were 26 total present. Four entered the Capitol and weren’t charged, which is not the same treatment that other Americans received."
Adding to the controversy, Rep. Thomas Massie linked the timing of FBI Director Wray's resignation to the release of the report, highlighting suspicions over the disclosed activities.
He stated, "It’s no coincidence that FBI Director Wray announced his resignation just prior to the release of the IG report exposing activities of FBI confidential human sources at the Capitol on Jan 6. For four years, I pressed for answers on this. Now the malfeasance is finally exposed.”
In response to the report and its findings, the FBI acknowledged the need to review and possibly adjust its protocols relating to handling events not designated as high security by the Department of Homeland Security. This reassessment aims to better prepare the agency for future incidents where its role could be crucial.
The implications of this report are significant, highlighting the necessity for clear guidelines and transparency in the deployment of confidential informants by federal agencies.
It raises questions about the balance between security and civil liberties, accentuating the ongoing debate regarding domestic surveillance practices.
As the discussion unfolds, further scrutiny of FBI procedures seems imminent, possibly leading to changes in how confidential informants are used in similar situations going forward. With the political landscape closely monitoring these developments, the effective oversight of law enforcement tactics remains a central concern among legislators and citizens alike.
