Correcting vague testimony from former Director Christopher Wray, Kash Patel explained that 274 agents were deployed post-riot on Jan. 6, 2021, for crowd control, not pre-riot infiltration, despite comments to that effect from President Trump. Additionally, Patel criticized Wray’s leadership for allegedly misleading Congress and pledged to maintain transparency.
For context, Trump demanded accountability, alleging agents acted as agitators, and pardoned Jan. 6 participants. Additionally, despite denials from Wray, Patel emphasized the need for direct answers to congressional queries.
In any case, speaking to Fox News Digital. Patel set the record straight. “Agents were sent into a crowd control mission after the riot was declared by Metro Police – something that goes against FBI standards, the FBI director said.
Placing the blame on former Director Wray, he noted, “This was the failure of a corrupt leadership that lied to Congress and to the American people about what really happened. “Thanks to agents coming forward, we are now uncovering the truth. We are fully committed to transparency, and justice and accountability continue with this FBI.”
However, President Trump took to Truth Social to offer a different take. He stated, “It was just revealed that the FBI had secretly placed, against all Rules, Regulations, Protocols, and Standards, 274 FBI Agents into the Crowd just prior to, and during, the January 6th Hoax. I owe this investigation of ‘Dirty Cops and Crooked Politicians’ to them! Christopher Wray, the then Director of the FBI, has some major explaining to do.”
In any case, while speaking to the House Judiciary Committee on November 15, 2023 gave one narrative on the events of January 6th. He claimed, “If you are asking if the violence at the Capitol was part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources or agents, the answer is no.”
Reacting to this comment, Kash Patel explained, “Why it took a ton of time and questioning in Congress for the director to get that point is what I’m trying to eliminate from the FBI. If Congress asks you a question under oath, whether or not there were sources in [or] around Jan. 6th at the Capitol, you as the director of the FBI need to know that and not deflect and give a D.C. answer.”
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As we reported, President Trump specifically tied his decision to nominate Kash Patel to a push for increased transparency. In his initial announcement, we reported that Trump posted, “I am proud to announce that Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and “America First” fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People.”
Explaining his previous work, the president said, “Kash did an incredible job during my First Term, where he served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council. Kash has also tried over 60 jury trials.”
Concluding his comments with a promise, Trump stated, “This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border. Kash will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI.”