Additional Coverage:
An investigation by a government watchdog found no evidence that FBI agents incited the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. The report contradicts claims made by some politicians that the FBI played a role in the violence.
The investigation, led by Inspector General Michael Horowitz, found that while 26 FBI informants were in Washington, D.C. that day, none were instructed to participate in the attack or encourage violence. Three informants were specifically tasked with monitoring potential threats, and one entered the Capitol during the riot.
The report also found that the FBI failed to properly gather intelligence from all its field offices before the attack. The FBI deputy director called this omission a “basic step that was missed.”
Despite these findings, the report also stated that the FBI took appropriate steps to support law enforcement on January 6th.
Over 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol attack, including members of the far-right Proud Boys group. Some of these defendants have alleged that FBI informants were present among the rioters, but the report found no evidence to support this claim.