Today, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) grilled the executive assistant director of the FBI’s National Security Branch Jill Sanborn about whether the FBI had employees or informants participate in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Sanborn’s responses were not comforting. Sanborn did acknowledge that there could have been FBI agents involved. She just said repeatedly that she couldn’t answer those questions.
Cruz also brought up the question of Ray Epps, noting that he’d encouraged people to enter the Capitol. Many people have speculated on why — when the FBI has gone after anyone within spitting distance of the Capitol — that they haven’t gone after him, and why he was initially on the FBI list but was then removed, despite no charges. Sanborn would not say when Cruz asked if Epps was a “fed.”
The Jan. 6 Committee then issued an interesting statement, claiming that Epps said he wasn’t working for the FBI and wasn’t an informant.
#January6After @tedcruz pressed witnesses at Senate Judiciary this morning on whether FBI informants were present at the Jan. 6 riots, a Select Committee spokesperson said it “has interviewed Mr. (Ray) Epps” details + statement via @cbszak pic.twitter.com/eW9LxxhidU
— Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) January 11, 2022
The FBI hadn’t commented on the question, however.
But then Rep. Adam Kinzinger (RINO-IL) weighed in, seemingly coming to the defense of “Ray.” Let’s just say that Kinzinger is not the sharpest tool in the drawer, as he didn’t even seem to realize the implication of what he was saying. Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, appointed Kinzinger to Jan. 6 Committee. Kinzinger is an Never Trumper who has always been in the pocket Democrats over this matter to make attacks on Republicans.
“I know this will break some hearts,” Kinzinger declared in a tweet thread. “For a few months, people like Tucker Carlson, MTG, Gaetz, and now Cruz have been “just asking questions” about a man named Ray Epps. He was on video the day before Jan 6 saying “we’re going INTO the capitol!” The some in the crowd chanted “fed fed fed.” Why? Who knows, maybe they knew he was videoed talking about breaking into the Capitol the day before it was to happen and wanted to create distance.”
He continued:
“Regardless, he was put on the FBI wanted list, then removed,” Kinzinger continued. “Because of all of that, the conspiracy that he was an FBI agent has been gospel on the blogs and shows. Side note: This is the reason we must address conspiracies, not ignore them. He didn’t enter the Capitol on Jan 6, and was removed from the most wanted list because apparently he broke no laws. I’m pretty sure the FBI wouldn’t be dumb enough to put their own agent on a wanted list.”
“Ray Epps has cooperated with the Jan 6 committee and we thank him on the broader issue. Let’s say Ray was an agent (HE IS NOT), the premise is that one agent can gin up a crowd to insurrection. That isn’t saying much about the intelligence of your voters is it Ted? They had business and formal education. They were aware. A FBI informant can be someone who is turned or paid by law enforcement to help them build larger cases. Informants can be criminals, who are willing to do whatever it takes to make a living. An informant is not an agent.”
“But Ted wants you to think it is. RAY is also not an informant. The narrative on Jan 6 has been that it’s first antifa, or patriots who love their country, maybe crisis actors, def false flag operatives, or now FBI agents. Pick your choice. They were incited to riot by lies. They are not fed. Just another misled man.”
So, wait, isn’t this the guy who has demonized anything and everyone anywhere near the Capitol on Jan. 6? This is the guy who has gone after Republicans and President Donald Trump, blaming them for what happened even though there’s no video of any of them urging people to go into the Capitol like there is with Ray Epps.
Kinzinger skips over Trump’s call for people to do something. “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” Yet he should be impeached, but Ray is just cool after inciting on video? So, by this “Ray Epps” argument, didn’t Kinzinger just blow up the whole argument that he and the Jan. 6 Committee have been trying to push against Republicans who didn’t do anything close to that? This sure does look like it to me. It was obviously a poor argument, but he has now torpedoed the whole thing.
Kinzinger’s tweets did not go unnoticed by Republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN).
Now, the @January6thCmte thinks it’s fine to encourage, organize, and direct people to go into the Capitol? That’s a good question. @RepKinzinger. pic.twitter.com/3h5xq29yVI
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) January 11, 2022
It is ironic that Adam Kinzinger, who we actually know is defending the Capitol from rioters is now the greatest part of the J6 scam committee. This is a joke. pic.twitter.com/QWhj2uVqj3
— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) January 12, 2022
Here’s an old tweet of Massie’s that covers some of Epps’ actions on video, including something that Cruz spoke about — how Epps whispered to another guy in a red hat, right before that guy began pushing the barricades over.
Is it possible that January 6th protestors were working for the federal governments? AG Garland was not available to answer my October question. This video was shown to him during that hearing and he seemed very anxious.pic.twitter.com/lvd9n4mMHK
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 30, 2021
Kinzinger seems chummy using Epps’ first name, and it’s kind of fascinating that the Committee has gone to these lengths to speak up for this guy. But whatever the status of Ray Epps, the fact remains that the FBI didn’t answer the question today as to the participation of the FBI. So obviously, there’s a truth yet to unspool there. People are talking more about the inability of the FBI and its response to questions.
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