Sen. Ted Cruz on Tuesday grilled a top FBI official on whether bureau informants were present at the Jan. 6 riots — zeroing in on a man named Ray Epps.
Jill Sanborn, the FBI’s executive assistant director for the national security branch, refused to answer key questions, saying she could not disclose “sources and methods.” Sanborn said she was not aware of any FBI agents inciting violent or criminal conduct on Jan. 6.
Cruz cited a video showing Epps encouraging people to enter the Capitol. The crowd accused him of being a federal agent. Cruz said Epps was initially put on a list from the FBI looking for information on the Capitol riot. He also said Epps was taken off the public posting later and has not been charged to date.
Senator @tedcruz‘s Full Questioning Of The FBI At Senate Judiciary Hearing Today About Whether There Were FBI Informants Present On January 6th And Ray Epps
“How many FBI agents or confidential informants actively participated in the events of January 6th?”
“Who is Ray Epps?” pic.twitter.com/Haufq3kym2
— The Columbia Bugle ?? (@ColumbiaBugle) January 11, 2022
Sanborn said she was familiar with Epps but could not answer Cruz’s question about whether he was an FBI agent. Sanborn also noted that she did not have “the specific background on him.”
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES WON’T SAY WHY ARMED CAPITOL RIOTERS DISAPPEARED FROM FBI’S MOST WANTED LIST
Sen. Tom Cotton followed Cruz and questioned Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olson during Tuesday’s hearing. Cotton asked if the FBI had any plainclothes officers in the crowd of rioters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Olson said he did not know the answer to that question. Olson also said that he did not have information on Epps.
There are three people who allegedly participated in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, who disappeared from the FBI’s Capitol Violence Most Wanted list without an explanation, according to an investigation by the Washington Examiner.
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Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz recently tried to counter the Democratic-led anniversary events of Jan. 6 in Congress with allegations that FBI agents played a role in the riots.
