Here’s the thing: We’ve seen the videos of Ray Epps encouraging people for two days to storm the Capitol building, so why hasn’t he been charged with incitement to riot? January 6 select committee member Rep. Adam Kinzinger has described “insurrectionist” Epps as “just another misled man” who didn’t break any laws. Conspiracy theorists, though, maintain that Epps was an FBI informant or agent — why else would be removed from the FBI’s wanted list with so much video evidence?
NBC News’ Ryan J. Reilly reports that the FBI is in quite a pickle: There’s a man who’s been dead for months on the FBI’s Capitol Violence page, but if the FBI removes him, it risks setting off “yet another conspiracy theory.”
There’s a suspect on the FBI’s Capitol Violence page — seen on video attacking officers — who has been dead for months.
But if the FBI removes his photos now, that’d risk setting off yet another conspiracy theory.
My latest for @NBCNews: https://t.co/xkdUGQtAhu
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) February 5, 2022
The FBI has removed suspects from the page before, including one because they were under underage. But with conspiracy theorists looking to feed a “false flag” narrative, removing suspects now could get tricky: https://t.co/xkdUGQtAhu
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) February 5, 2022
The FBI isn’t supposed to release derogatory information about suspects if, for example, prosecution is declined (see: 2016).
But that puts the bureau in a tricky position in explaining why suspects are removed from the Jan. 6 page.https://t.co/xkdUGQtAhu
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) February 5, 2022
That policy — intended to protect the reputations of individuals who aren't facing criminal charges — has inadvertently helped feed conspiracies about the Jan. 6 attack.
https://t.co/xkdUGQtAhu— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) February 5, 2022
So the FBI is going to keep individuals who aren’t facing criminal charges up on its Capitol Violence website? Rilley writes of the man who’s been dead for months:
That’s something that the FBI will have to weigh when deciding what to do about the suspect who still appears on its website with the label “AFO,” meaning assault on federal officer. The FBI received a tip about the suspect months ago, not long before his unexpected death over the summer. But removing his image from the website now could spark additional conspiracy theories that could only be resolved through public identification, which would set off a fresh round of pain for a family still recovering from its loss. (NBC News is not naming the suspect, other than saying he was from the Midwest, because he was not arrested or charged before his death.)
Are we really supposed to believe the FBI wants to remove the man to avoid “a fresh round of pain for a family still recovering from its loss”? He’s listed as assaulting a federal officer; people have no pity for the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was a domestic terrorist who should have complied and got justice served on the spot.
Keep trusting the FBI. pic.twitter.com/EwBAhKBcg1
— Free Patriot of Pitcher Canyon aka Eric Nordling (@canyon_free) February 5, 2022
Strawman argument. #epps
— JR in Texas (@jrbraddock) February 5, 2022
Enemy of the people (Twitter blue check marks)
— Pariah Scarey (@ScareyPariah) February 5, 2022
Like “five people killed by 1/6 rioters”?
— Caleb Cartier (@caleb_cartier) February 5, 2022
— SirPatrick (@PatrickMcNiff) February 5, 2022
That's a ridiculous assertion.
— A.J. Calhoun (@AlGonq) February 5, 2022
You're hunting down misdemeanors and ignoring Ray Epps and his role, which is caught on video.
You can't explain it away with "conspiracy theory"
It's not going away— Country Ham Sammich (@HammSamm519) February 5, 2022
There is another pernicious conspiracy theory that proposes Ray Epps was taken off the FBI most wanted list and never charged with incitement. We all know the FBI is nonpartisan and honest, and would never impart unfair justice.
— Charles Williams (@charlesdhmmr) February 5, 2022
Do you get paid to write this garbage????
— Chris R (@cpa_gr8) February 5, 2022
It’s pretty easy to put conspiracy theories to bed when you release irrefutable data (eg he’s dead). Conspiracy theories thrive when you ignore or cover them up (eg Epps). You’re smart. You know this. You are helping to cover them up.
— Brent (@BrentTexasAgs) February 5, 2022
Do Epps. Or shut up.
— Jason Jones (@psujwj) February 5, 2022
The January 6 select committee, which is supposed to be looking into the origins of the storming of the Capitol, already interviewed Epps for some reason and found that he’s a stand-up guy who was just misled. Now grandma taking selfies inside the building, that’s another story.
Related:
Ray Epps’ attorney explains why he was removed from the FBI’s suspect database https://t.co/jjX6yHGTyW
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 18, 2022
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