Following a recent Inspector General report revealing 26 FBI informants were present at the January 6th Capitol riot, Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson are pressing for further investigation into the potential involvement of informants from other Justice Department agencies. The senators expressed concern that the report, while a step forward, may not provide a complete picture of the situation.
The original report, released by Inspector General Michael Horowitz, stated that three of the 26 FBI informants were specifically assigned to be at the event, and none were authorized to engage in or encourage illegal activities. However, Grassley and Johnson are seeking clarification on whether Horowitz's investigation encompassed the use of informants by other DOJ components, and whether all relevant communications between handlers and informants were reviewed, including classified and unclassified materials.
Photo from the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
Senator Grassley emphasized the public's right to a comprehensive understanding of the Justice Department's actions, including the roles and knowledge of any informants present from its various agencies. He urged Horowitz to ensure all relevant information has been examined.
Sen. Chuck Grassley at the U.S. Capitol. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Senator Johnson echoed these sentiments, suggesting the current report might only represent a small part of the story regarding the presence and actions of informants or undercover agents on that day. He called for full transparency from the Inspector General's office to ensure Congress and the public have a complete and accurate understanding of the events.
Sen. Ron Johnson
In their letter to Horowitz, the senators highlighted the vast amount of documentation – over 500,000 documents – received by the Inspector General’s office from the DOJ and its components. They requested a more detailed explanation of the specific records sought and obtained from each agency, focusing on whether other DOJ components had deployed informants in the D.C. area or at the Capitol on January 6th.
Furthermore, they inquired about the acquisition of all communications between DOJ handlers and informants, including classified and unclassified non-email platforms used by the FBI. They also requested access to all FD-1023 forms, which are confidential human source reporting documents, used in the investigation.
Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The initial report clarified that none of the FBI informants were authorized to enter the Capitol or restricted areas, nor were they instructed to break the law or incite others to do so. The report also noted the FBI's limited role in the January 6th response, primarily due to the Department of Homeland Security's security level assessment. However, Horowitz acknowledged that the FBI took appropriate preparatory steps.
Of the 26 informants present, only three were specifically assigned to the rally by the FBI. One of these entered the Capitol building, while the other two entered the restricted area. Informants directed to attend events are typically compensated by the FBI for their time.
