A long-awaited investigation by the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General has found no evidence to support claims that federal agents incited the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The report, released Thursday, dismantles persistent conspiracy theories promoted by far-right figures suggesting FBI involvement in the assault.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz's findings concluded that no undercover FBI employees were among the thousands of individuals who stormed the Capitol or attended surrounding protests that day. While the report identified 26 confidential human sources (CHSs) in Washington, D.C., on January 6, none were directed by the FBI to participate in the riot or engage in illegal activities.
The investigation confirmed that three informants were specifically tasked by FBI field offices to monitor individuals tied to domestic terrorism investigations. Of those three, one entered the Capitol during the riot. Among the remaining 23 informants, three entered the Capitol, and 11 were present in restricted areas around the building. However, none of these informants were instructed by the FBI to take such actions, according to Horowitz's report.
"Our review determined that none of these FBI CHSs was authorized by the FBI to enter the Capitol or a restricted area or to otherwise break the law on January 6, nor was any CHS directed by the FBI to encourage others to commit illegal acts," Horowitz said in a statement.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia has also not prosecuted the four informants who entered the Capitol, citing a broader policy not to charge individuals whose only offense was entering restricted Capitol grounds. This approach has resulted in declining charges against hundreds of individuals involved in the riot.
The report does not absolve the FBI of all criticism, however. It highlighted significant lapses in intelligence-sharing and preparedness. One of the critical findings was the FBI's failure to conduct a full canvass of field offices for intelligence on potential threats ahead of January 6. Deputy Director Paul Abbate acknowledged the oversight, calling it a "basic step that was missed" and committing to improved practices in the future.
While Senate Democrats had previously criticized the FBI in a June 2023 report for failing to sound alarms about potential violence, Horowitz's findings indicated that the bureau did not withhold any critical intelligence from other law enforcement agencies.
The January 6 riot, which interrupted the certification of President Joe Biden's electoral victory, resulted in over 1,500 arrests nationwide. Charges ranged from illegal trespassing to seditious conspiracy. Court proceedings have revealed the presence of FBI informants within the crowd, fueling conspiracy theories about federal orchestration of the attack. However, many of these theories have been rejected by legal representatives of January 6 defendants and independent investigators.
Despite these findings, the report underscores a need for vigilance. The FBI "took significant and appropriate steps in advance of January 6" as part of its supporting role, Horowitz stated. However, he acknowledged gaps in execution and communication.
