Amid the political controversy, Donald Trump leveled an accusation against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), claiming that the agency secretly embedded a significant number of its agents among the participants of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. In a statement posted on his Truth Social network, Trump alleged the embedding of 274 FBI agents immediately before and during the events, which he characterized as a “staged event.”
According to Trump’s post, the FBI secretly, in violation of all rules, regulations, protocols, and standards, sent 274 FBI agents into the crowd immediately before the staged event on January 6 and during it. He added that the agents likely acted as “agitators and instigators,” rather than as law enforcement officers. He called for the disclosure of the identities and actions of these “so-called agents” during that “historic day.”
President Trump also asserted that these revelations contradict previous statements by FBI Director Christopher Wray. Trump drew a parallel with Ray’s predecessor, James Comey, who was dismissed in 2017 and was charged last week with obstruction of justice and making false statements to Congress regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election, charges which Comey denies.
At the time of publication, the FBI had not provided official comments in response to Trump’s statements, which followed the publication of a news report claiming the secret embedding of 274 FBI agents in the Capitol during the January 6 riots.
These accusations are made amid ongoing debates and investigations concerning the events of January 6 and the role of various government agencies in ensuring the security of the Capitol and responding to the riots.