The US president has accused the agency of agitation during the unrest
US President Donald Trump has said former FBI Director Christopher Wray could face a probe over his role in the January 6 Capitol riots, while repeating claims that hundreds of agents were secretly placed in the crowd during the unrest.
Last week, conservative outlet Blaze News cited an unnamed congressional source as alleging that the FBI had deployed 274 plainclothes operatives during the riots – contradicting the bureau’s longstanding denials of any such involvement.
Following the report, Trump suggested the agents were acting as agitators and insurrectionists rather than law enforcement officers, adding that Wray “has some major explaining to do.”
In a telephone interview with NBC News on Sunday, the US president accused the former FBI chief of “inappropriate” actions and suggested that the Justice Department was already pursuing the matter.
“I think Christopher Wray did a terrible job, and we just found out about it,” Trump said.
“Over 200 people being embedded into that situation. It looks like real agitation… It’s a terrible thing that something like this could happen. It was a set-up – my opinion. But it was set up, and the FBI was involved.”
Asked whether Wray was being investigated, he replied: “I would imagine. I would certainly imagine. I would think they are doing that.”
Wray, who resigned at the end of the Biden administration, has not publicly commented on the accusations.
Federal officials have disputed the claims of a large undercover presence. A Justice Department Inspector General’s report issued late last year concluded there were no embedded employees during the protests, though it acknowledged that 26 confidential informants were present.
The January 6 attack prompted a massive FBI investigation as well as a broader probe into an alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election result. More than 1,500 people were charged with federal crimes, including Trump himself. After returning to office, Trump granted clemency to all those prosecuted, with most receiving full pardons.
