Patel addresses FBI agent presence at Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, disputing Wray's past testimony

 September 28, 2025

In a stunning revelation, the FBI has admitted to deploying 274 plainclothes agents to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, during a chaotic demonstration that shocked the nation.

This disclosure has sparked renewed scrutiny, including from President Donald Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel, over the agency's role and transparency, as former Director Christopher Wray faces criticism for evasive testimony before Congress during the Biden era about the extent of FBI involvement that day, as Fox News reports.

On the morning of Jan. 6, events unfolded at the Capitol following a speech by then-President Donald Trump at the Ellipse.

FBI officials have long maintained that there is no evidence linking agents to activities surrounding that speech.

Unveiling FBI's Jan. 6 presence

Later that day, as chaos erupted, the Capitol Police, overwhelmed by the unruly crowd, requested assistance from the FBI.

The first FBI agents, it is now known, arrived around 2:30 p.m., after the riot was officially declared, with more personnel joining as the situation escalated.

According to the agency, these 274 agents were tasked with crowd control, a role that deviates from standard FBI practices and training protocols.

Agents ill-prepared for crowd control

Many agents reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with this assignment, as it was unplanned and outside their typical responsibilities.

FBI officials have emphasized that the agents were not present before the riot began and were only sent in response to the Capitol Police's urgent plea for help.

A Justice Department Inspector General report corroborated this, finding no evidence of undercover FBI employees in the protest crowds or at the Capitol prior to the unrest.

The report did note that 26 paid informants were present, with only three assigned by the agency.

Transparency issues under Wray alleged

The report also confirmed that none of these informants were authorized to incite violence or break laws during the event.

However, former FBI Director Christopher Wray's past testimony before Congress has come under fire for lacking clarity about the agency's involvement.

Patel has since criticized Wray for evasive responses during multiple Capitol Hill appearances, particularly before the Inspector General report was released.

Political fallout, Trump's reactions

Patel told Fox News Digital, "Agents were sent into a crowd control mission after the riot was declared by Metro Police -- something that goes against FBI standards."

He added, "This was the failure of a corrupt leadership that lied to Congress and to the American people about what really happened."

President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the contentious issue.

Trump has expressed outrage over the revelations, and he questioned the agents' purpose at the Capitol in posts to his Truth Social platform.

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