Jan. 6 committee dismisses Ray Epps conspiracy theory, issues new subpoenas

[riversedge]

Source: nbc news


The House panel said Epps, who was seen trying to egg on protesters ahead of the Jan. 6 riot, told it he was not a federal agent.

By Allan Smith, Ali Vitali and Haley Talbot

The House committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol sought to dismiss a right-wing conspiracy theory by announcing Tuesday that Ray Epps, who was seen trying to egg on protesters ahead of the Jan. 6 riot, told committee members in an interview that he was not a federal agent.

The panel also subpoenaed a trio of Trump allies as it continues its monthslong investigation into the origins of the attack.

Epps has been the focus of far-right allegations that, instead of being a Trump supporter, he was working with the federal government, seeking to provoke violence.

"The Select Committee is aware of unsupported claims that Ray Epps was an FBI informant based on the fact that he was on the FBI Wanted list and then was removed from that list without being charged," the committee said in a statement. "Mr. Epps informed us that he was not employed by, working with, or acting at the direction of any law enforcement agency on January 5th or 6th or at any other time, and that he has never been an informant for the FBI or any other law enforcement agency."

Epps was seen on video the night of Jan. 5 asking other people to "go into the Capitol" the next day before others began chanting "Fed, Fed, Fed" at him. In video from Jan. 6, Epps shouted to those nearby: "OK, folks, spread the word! As soon as the president is done speaking, we go to the Capitol. The Capitol is this direction," PolitiFact reported.

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Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/jan-6-committee-dismisses-ray-epps-conspiracy-theory-issues-new-n1287335

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Ebbs name is plastered all over twitter--the RW believing he is an FBI agent.






https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-1240w,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2021_51/3446930/210202-capitol-riot-al-1021.jpg
Image: Capitol riot
Rioters try to enter the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.Eric Lee / Bloomberg via Getty Images file
Jan. 11, 2022, 6:46 PM CST

[MichMan]

1. I don't understand why he hasn't been charged along with the other Jan 6 rioters?

[cadoman]

5. that is exactly the dilemma, he's either an agent or he's being given special treatment

It clearly is the case that he is one of the top instigators on those days.

So if the committee feels confident in his testimony that he is not an agent, what the heck is going on at FBI/DoJ that Epps is not under arrest? Why did the committee give him a pass?

That he's not an agent has to be a lie, or a cover up for something else. This situation makes zero sense as portrayed now.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

11. No one's giving anyone a pass. Complexity requires time, not rapid public displays of grandstanding.

Much of the work product is in secret, we have only seen the tip of the iceberg.

What lies beneath?

I wager the R Senators have recently been shown a mere glimpse…and they are running for the lifeboats.

[Chicago1980]

6. Did he go into the building?

Are people who were caught on video but never entered the Capitol being charged?

[MichMan]

9. I guess that means Trump can't be charged with anything either

or anyone else that didn't physically enter. Garland should just say so if that is the criteria.

[HUAJIAO]

10. The driver of the get-away car is guilty as the others.

[cadoman]

14. I'm not sure he went into the building, but why not incitement to riot?

He's clearly on video several times instructing and egging people on to enter the building. He was coordinating the first breach of the perimeter barrier.

I mean, there may not be enough to build a case there, but it seems like he would be one of the easiest targets to prosecute because the intent was publicly spoken multiple times. He even admitted that he should be arrested for suggesting it! And if there wasn't enough to charge him, and he wasn't working with the FBI or other agencies, why not just say so?

"We examined Ray Epp's actions on that day and didn't feel they qualified for the charge of sedition, insurrection, incitement to riot, or parading. He was not in any way, directly or otherwise, involved with a Federal agency."

Or something to that effect? Instead we get this indirect, partial, hedged debunk that he wasn't working with the FBI or "law enforcement". Well, his working for the FBI or "law enforcement" is far from the only point of importance here, and the committee should know it!

[riversedge]

2. Nov 17, 2021 A story by conservative blog Revolver News provides speculative information about a man

The conspiracy theory has been circulating for long time.


@PolitiFact
·
Nov 17, 2021
A story by conservative blog Revolver News provides speculative information about a man named Ray Epps, a Trump supporter who attended the Jan. 6 riot. It doesn't confirm Epps to be an FBI informant and the investigation into the Capitol breach is ongoing. https://bit.ly/324CHyF

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

3. @snopes The conspiratorial claim that the attack on the U.S. Capitol was a false flag conducted by

snopes.com
@snopes
The conspiratorial claim that the attack on the U.S. Capitol was a false flag conducted by federal agents hinges largely on the identity of one man.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[MichMan]

4. I guess what he did wasn't prosecutable since he personally didn't go in himself

Even though he is on video urging others to go in.

[duforsure]

7. So, Ted Cruz lied again,

Trying to claim Ebbs was connected ( falsely) with the FBI. We will eventually learn why.

[oldsoftie]

8. "i'm not a federal agent". "Oh, Ok". So thats all it takes?

Never heard of this man before I saw a couple stories a few weeks ago with the crazies going on about him. But i would think there should be more required than just a denial.
And WAS he on the most Wanted list? WAS he removed from it? If he was, what for? If he was removed, why? All those questions need to be answered if they are questions of fact.
Epps aside, it doesnt matter if he WAS an agent. Most of the people charged plastered all over their FB pages what they wanted to do before hand and what they HAD done afterwards.
I'm not in favor of feds talking people into doing things they wouldnt normally do on their own. But most of these attackers have shown that they were more than willing to act violently

[Alexander Of Assyria]

12. The conspiracy theory has been dismissed, shattered, spat upon and discarded.

So all of that is irrelevant, as it should be.

[oldsoftie]

13. But questions should still be answered regardless of any conspiracy

I want to know & I would think most people would want to know; if someone was on the Most Wanted list, that makes you a major criminal. If you were taken OFF the list without being arrested; why? If there is something secret going on, they should have had a closed hearing concerning this guy. Was he actually never ON the list? Thats the easiest explanation. But is it the accurate one?
Just simply saying "I'm not an agent" and leaving the rest unanswered only gives the trumpers MORE reason to suspect there WAS something going on. They wouldnt take that answer from you or me. Explain those two questions and that goes away.
I never thought there was a conspiracy & still dont. But I dont like shit like this.

[IbogaProject]

15. I was lucky to have gotten a KF94 recently

I was lucky to have gotten a KF94 recently, random buy in Chinatown in NYC. I looked it up and it's Korean and a solid mask. Ordered a set mid December.

Our kid didn't switch before he caught omicron. I recovered quickly. Wife has remained clear. We have HEPA filters and we all mask. Kid has only been out to get tested.