Ray Epps, for those not familiar with the name, is a shadowy figure who was captured on video at several different locations days before and during the January 6th rioting. He appeared to be giving instructions to other demonstrators to tear down police barriers, while also shouting for demonstrators on January 5th (a day before the riot) to enter the Capitol building after the Trump rally.
Epps was initially identified as a former Marine with a photo of him appearing on an FBI wanted poster which suddenly vanished. Even though there’s video footage of him instigating others to break the law, Epps has never been arrested for his actions.
This information finally prompted Senator Ted Cruz to challenge the FBI Executive Assistant Director of National Security Branch, Jill Sanborn, in inquiring if any FBI agents (including Epps) had participated at any level in the January 6th rioting.
"Is Ray Epps a fed?"
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) January 11, 2022
"I can not answer that question." https://t.co/ISfCosCPzs
“How many FBI agents or confidential informants actively participated in the events of January 6th?” Cruz asked Sanborn during a hearing about domestic violence threats on Tuesday.
“Sir, I’m sure you can appreciate that I can’t go into the specifics of sources and methods –” Sanborn began, but was quickly cut off by the Texas lawmaker, who repeated the same question again.
“I can’t answer that,” said Sanborn, who joined the hearing virtually.
Once again, Cruz asked, “Did any FBI agents or confidential informants commit crimes of violence on January 6?”
Sanborn, once again, responded, “I can’t answer that.”
“Did any FBI agents or FBI informants actively encourage and incite crimes of violence on January 6?” the Texas Republican senator again asked.
Sanborn refused to answer for a third time.
The senator realizing that Sanborn would not answer whether the FBI was directly responsible for initiating the riot. Deciding on another tactic, Cruz asked Sanborn directly if she knew Ray Epps?
Sanborn responded she was aware of who Ray Epps is, however, she doesn’t “have the specific background on him”.
The Texas senator then shared images of Epps from January 5th, where his suspicious behavior caught the attention of Trump supporters gathered in Washington, D.C., causing them to chant “Fed!”
The following day, January 6th, Epps can be seen in another video clip dressed in military-style clothing and yelling to a crowd, “OK folks, spread the word. As soon as the president is done speaking, we go to the Capitol, where our problems are.”
Pointing behind him, he adds, “It’s that direction. Please spread the word.”
According to the DailyMail.com, Epps is accused of being an FBI “PLANT” sent by the agency to incite the January 6th riot. The online news outlet also tracked where Epps, a former Oath Keepers chapter president, resides at his rural property in Queen Creek just outside Phoenix, Arizona.
Nothing happens with Ray Epps and Steward Rhodes for over a year in regards to Jan 6th
— E (@ElijahSchaffer) January 13, 2022
Then within 48 hours, Ray testifies he’s not a fed because the media agrees he’s not
Then Rhodes is arrested. They think we don’t see how much of a sham this ishttps://t.co/EaIvVMzkRh
However, a select committee spokesperson told DailyMail.com in a statement, “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 Select Committee has interviewed Mr. Epps,” they added. “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.”
Yet, there’s video footage showing Epps standing next to a police barricade with another demonstrator. Epps suddenly bends over and begins whispering in his ear. Moments later, the guy starts tearing down the police barricade…all one needs to do is check out the videos.