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FBI’s Patel clarifies role of hundreds of agents on Jan 6, says Wray lied to Congress
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EXCLUSIVE: The FBI responded on Saturday to a report that 274 plainclothes agents were at the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, clarifying the role of bureau personnel while still blasting former Director Christopher Wray.
While the agents were on hand, they were sent in after the riot had begun to try to control the unruly crowd, officials told Fox News Digital. That is not the proper role of FBI agents, and Wray was not forthcoming about what happened when he testified numerous times on Capitol Hill, Director Kash Patel said.
«Agents were sent into a crowd control mission after the riot was declared by Metro Police – something that goes against FBI standards,» Patel told Fox News Digital. «This was the failure of a corrupt leadership that lied to Congress and to the American people about what really happened.»
He added, «Thanks to agents coming forward, we are now uncovering the truth. We are fully committed to transparency, and justice and accountability continues with this FBI.»
There’s no indication any FBI agents were involved in any events related to Trump’s speech on the morning of Jan. 6 at the Ellipse, an FBI official told Fox News Digital, adding that Wray should have disclosed that agents were there when he was asked by congressional leaders.
FBI’S KASH PATEL VOWS ‘DEFINITIVE ANSWER’ ON TOP JAN 6 QUESTION IS ‘COMING’
The FBI responded on Saturday after President Donald Trump said that former FBI Director Christopher Wray «has some major explaining to do» following a report that said 274 plainclothes agents were at the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump, citing a report that the agents were in the crowd which did not make clear their mission, said earlier that Wray, «has some major explaining to do.»
«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,» Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday afternoon following a report from The Blaze, revealing the number of agents that were there.
Trump added, «This is different from what Director Christopher Wray stated, over and over again! That’s right, as it now turns out, FBI Agents were at, and in, the January 6th Protest, probably acting as Agitators and Insurrectionists, but certainly not as ‘Law Enforcement Officials.’»
The president said he wanted to know each officer’s identity and what they were doing at the U.S. Capitol.
«Many Great American Patriots were made to pay a very big price only for the love of their Country,» he said, referring to Trump supporters who faced charges for their involvement on Jan. 6.
Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of every person charged for involvement on Jan. 6 after he took office this year.
DOJ INSPECTOR GENERAL DOES NOT DENY FBI INFORMANTS WERE AMONG JAN. 6 CROWD
Then-FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee on Nov. 15, 2023, «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.» (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
He concluded, «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. That’s two in a row, Comey and Wray, who got caught LYING, with our Great Country at stake. WE CAN NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN TO AMERICA AGAIN!»
Citing a senior congressional source, the Blaze report said that the number of agents wasn’t «necessarily a surprise» because the FBI often «embeds countersurveillance personnel at large events.»
Wray told a House Committee on Nov. 15, 2023, «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,» but he wouldn’t disclose if any agents or sources were embedded within the crowd.
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement that agents were sent to the Capitol on Jan. 6 for crowd control after it was declared a riot against agency policy. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
The 274 agents also includes those who were responding to the pipe bombs placed near the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters the night before Jan. 6, according to Politico.
Trump nominated Wray as FBI director in 2017 after he fired former FBI director James Comey, who was just indicted by a grand jury this week for allegedly making false statements to Congress.
FBI AGENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE TOLD TO RESIGN, RETIRE OR BE FIRED
A report released last December by Justice Department Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz said: «We found no evidence in the materials we reviewed or the testimony we received showing or suggesting that the FBI had undercover employees in the various protest crowds, or at the Capitol, on January 6,» although he acknowledged there were 26 paid informants, but only three of them were assigned by the FBI to be there.
The report also said that FBI personnel were sent to the Capitol at the request of overwhelmed Capitol Police to help with crowd control.
Horowitz said that none of the informants were allowed to incite the crowd, break the law or enter the U.S. Capitol.
Rioters and U.S. Capitol police battle over a barricade at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In its reporting, Blaze noted that there may have been confusion regarding «plainclothes» and «undercover,» meaning both the inspector general and the FBI could be telling the truth.
Many of the agents weren’t happy to have been sent to the Capitol to do crowd control, another official told Fox News Digital. It was a chaotic scene with no pre-planning that contradicted the agency’s original plan to not get involved in the event. The official said that agents are not trained to do crowd control.
The first agents arrived at the Capitol around 2:30 p.m. — there’s no evidence there were any there before a riot was declared — and agents continued to arrive after that, the official added.
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)
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Wray had testified before Congress prior to the inspector general’s report being released in December, but Patel called out Wray for deflecting and giving a «D.C. answer» when pressed by lawmakers.
«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,» Patel said. «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. You have to be prepared for that.»
Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
fbi,capitol protests,politics,donald trump,congress
INTERNACIONAL
Alliance with US ‘dismantled’ by leftist Petro regime, Colombia’s former defense minister says
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Former Colombian Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzón warned that the once-close U.S.–Colombia alliance has «collapsed» under President Gustavo Petro, accusing the leftist leader of aligning with Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and turning Colombia into a «narco-state.»
Pinzón, who is weighing a presidential run, told Fox News Digital he could «repair U.S.-Colombian relations in a week» and urged international oversight of Colombia’s May elections amid what he called growing cartel influence and political corruption.
«Petro has made himself an ally to [Venezuelan dictator Nicolás] Maduro’s regime, a narco-state, and a regime that is held mainly by the Cartel de los Soles,» Pinzón said. «He has justified the existence of drug trafficking in Colombia … he has aligned himself with the idea of something that he calls ‘Total Peace,’ which implies that he’s providing benefits to drug traffickers and terrorist organizations and in general terms to organized crime.»
Relations between Washington and Bogotá — historically one of the closest U.S. security partnerships in Latin America — have deteriorated sharply under Petro, who has sought warmer ties with Caracas while distancing Colombia from the U.S. and Western allies.
TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON COLOMBIA CRACKDOWN, CALLS PETRO ‘LUNATIC,’ VOWS TO END ALL US PAYMENTS OVER DRUGS
Colombia’s former defense chief and Ambassador to the U.S. Juan Carlos Pinzon (right) floats a run for the presidency. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
During his tenure as defense minister from 2011 to 2015 under President Juan Manuel Santos, Pinzón oversaw some of Colombia’s most aggressive operations against the FARC and other armed groups, helping drive coca production and kidnappings to historic lows. As ambassador to Washington from 2015 to 2017, he helped secure Colombia’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, expanding intelligence sharing and military training programs with the U.S. — partnerships he now says have been «dismantled» under Petro.
Under Petro’s «Total Peace» policy, the Colombian government negotiates directly with armed criminal groups in an effort to end decades of internal conflict and integrate fighters into civilian life. Critics, including Pinzón, say the initiative has legitimized cartels and weakened the country’s security forces.
«Homicide has gone up, terrorist actions have gone up, kidnappings have gone up, and the killing of police officers and military is increasing,» he said. «All this is very bad for my country. And this is why I’m so committed to fight this, to confront this.»
TRUMP ADMIN REVOKES COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT’S VISA OVER ALLEGED ‘RECKLESS AND INCENDIARY ACTIONS’
President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro. (Getty Images)
Pinzón, who previously served as both defense minister and ambassador to Washington, is positioning himself as a pro-U.S. alternative ahead of Colombia’s 2026 presidential race. «I might announce a decision in the coming weeks,» he said. «That’s something that I’m really considering.»
He also called for international election monitoring, warning that criminal networks could interfere in the vote. «If I were to ask something to the world today and to the international community — to the U.S., to the European Union, and even to countries in Asia — it’s that they make sure Colombian elections are not tainted by drug trafficking, illegal mining or terrorist hands,» Pinzón said.
After a recent spat where Petro accused the U.S. of killing a Colombian fisherman in one of its seven Caribbean strikes targeting drug traffickers, Trump announced he would cut off all counter-narcotics aid to Colombia and hike tariffs on the nation.
Pinzón urged Washington not to punish ordinary Colombians for Petro’s policies.
«It’s not regular Colombians who are doing this,» he said. «Most of us completely disagree with what is going on under Petro. We don’t want to see tariffs that can affect jobs and businesses in Colombia.»
While he praised Trump’s stance against narco-trafficking and corruption, Pinzón said he hopes the U.S. will avoid cutting counternarcotics aid, which he described as vital to Colombia’s military and police forces on the front lines of the drug war. «Our military and police are the real fighters against drugs,» he said. «They continue to sacrifice, they continue to confront terrorism and drug trafficking. If that support disappears, it’s the criminals who are going to benefit.»
Instead, Pinzón said Washington should focus on targeted financial sanctions — such as those imposed by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) — to hit specific traffickers, corrupt officials and their enablers rather than imposing measures that «hurt regular Colombians.» «We would prefer OFAC-style sanctions on the people committing crimes,» he said, «not policies that punish those who oppose Petro’s agenda.»
Looking ahead to potential ties with Washington, Pinzón said he could quickly rebuild the partnership through renewed security and intelligence cooperation, technology exchange and educational programs.
«Petro has made himself an ally to Maduro’s regime, a narco-state, and a regime that is held mainly by the Cartel de los Soles,» Pinzón said. (LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images)
TRUMP GOES ALL-OUT AGAINST COLOMBIA’S PETRO AFTER CLAIMS DRUG STRIKE KILLED FISHERMAN: WHAT WE KNOW
«I will just come to the U.S., speak openly and clearly with President Trump and the U.S. leadership, and speak on the need of creating a security agreement again on intelligence, on air mobility, on technology, on combating drug trade, but also on critical minerals and education,» he said. «We want more Colombians to come to U.S. schools and enhance their capabilities and come back to Colombia to create knowledge, wealth and prosperity. We’re going to be again the closest ally of the United States strategically in the region.»
If Colombia continues on its current course, Pinzón warned, it could destabilize the entire hemisphere. «Colombia is a stabilizer at the end,» he said. «If Colombia fails, the whole region will fail.»
Asked if he would seek U.S. backing, Pinzón said he values bipartisan support. «Everybody knows that I will have a very good relationship with the United States, certainly with the current administration, with President Trump,» he said.
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Pinzón also accused Petro of «abandoning» Colombian citizens during a diplomatic spat with Washington after refusing deportation flights from the U.S. because the migrants were shackled. He said he would cooperate on deportations and be open to broader agreements if asked.
«When Afghanistan fell, we offered the U.S. even to take care of some of the Afghanis if necessary,» Pinzón said. «When you have a strong relationship as the one we used to have between Colombia and the U.S., and we will have if I can get to the presidency, what we’re going to see is a lot of good coordination and a lot of good things for both the people of Colombia and the people of the United States.»
Fox News Digital reached out to the Colombian Embassy for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
latin america,foreign policy,venezuelan political crisis
INTERNACIONAL
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Una heladera, una TV, un teléfono y las «serenatas» de otros presos: así es la minúscula celda donde encarcelaron a Nicolas Sarkozy en pleno corazón de París
El martes 21 de octubre, Nicolas Sarkozy marcó un hito en la historia de Francia: se convirtió en el primer expresidente en ser encarcelado desde el final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Condenado a cinco años de prisión efectiva por financiar una campaña con dinero del dictador libio Gadafi, el exmandatario enfrentará su detención en el sector de aislamiento de la famosa prisión de la Santé, en pleno corazón de París.
Ubicada en el XIV arrondissement, entre la Place d’Italie y la Gare Montparnasse, la Santé es la única cárcel dentro de la ciudad. Allí, Sarkozy será alojado en una celda de 9 m² en el área de mayor seguridad del penal, un sector reservado para los detenidos considerados “vulnerables” o de alto perfil.
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Pocos lujos: así son por dentro las celdas de máxima seguridad de La Santé. (Foto: AFP).
Un régimen de aislamiento total y vigilancia permanente
El sector de aislamiento de la Santé es conocido por su seguridad extrema. Los internos permanecen completamente solos en sus celdas y, cuando salen para una breve caminata o para hacer algo de ejercicio, lo hacen sin compañía. Incluso en la biblioteca, la rutina es en soledad absoluta.
La senadora ecologista Anne Souyris visitó el lugar y describió el protocolo al sitio FranceInfo: “Cuando abren la celda, hay una trampa en la puerta. Los presos deben sacar las manos para que los esposen. Es realmente muy seguro”. La Santé es la única cárcel dentro de París. (Foto: AFP/Boris Horvat).
Las celdas son pequeñas, de apenas 9 metros cuadrados. Tienen una pequeña heladera, una cocina eléctrica rodeada de humedad, una televisión y un teléfono fijo en la pared.
El mobiliario es básico: una cama y, a veces, un colchón en el suelo para un segundo interno. Las condiciones, según los propios presos, dejan mucho que desear: “El problema es la ventilación de la ducha y la cocina. Las paredes se hinchan”, contó uno de ellos.
Una pequeña heladera, una cocina eléctrica y un teléfono fijo en la pared. Así es la celda donde detuvieron a Sarkozy. (Foto: gentileza France Info).
Sobrepoblación, violencia y un pasado de figuras polémicas
La Santé está sobrepoblada: aloja a 1237 detenidos, aunque su capacidad es de solo 657. Apenas una treintena de internos, menos del 3%, son considerados “vulnerables”, como Sarkozy.
Por el penal pasaron otros políticos famosos en Francia: Patrick Balkany, Claude Guéant, Bernard Tapie, el cantante Jean-Luc Lahaye y hasta el exjefe policial Michel Neyret.
Neyret, que estuvo ocho meses en aislamiento, recordó: “Las primeras noches, cada media hora te despiertan y prenden la luz para ver si no tenés pensamientos suicidas. Después, vienen las ‘serenatas’ de los otros presos, que gritan tu nombre toda la noche. Es el recibimiento que seguramente le espera a Sarkozy”.
Sarkozy será detenido en un sector para presos considerados «vulnerables». (Foto: gentileza France Info).
El clima puede ser hostil. Muchos internos seguramente no habrán olvidado las declaraciones del expresidente, que había prometido “limpiar la escoria con una hidrolavadora” o propuso la castración química para violadores. “Eso no le cayó bien a nadie. Nos sentíamos tratados como animales”, dijo un preso.
Leé también: Condenaron al expresidente Nicolás Sarkozy por financiar su campaña con dinero del dictador libio Gadafi
Privilegios, rutina y la posibilidad de libertad anticipada
A pesar del aislamiento, Sarkozy tendrá acceso a los mismos servicios que el resto de los internos de ese sector: tres visitas semanales, un teléfono fijo en la celda y dos salidas diarias al patio.
Sin embargo, la rutina es monótona y el tiempo pasa lento. “No hay actividades, solo una hora de deporte y una hora y media de paseo”, explicó Pierre Botton, un exempresario que estuvo dos veces en la Santé. Nicolás Sarkozy junto a su esposa, la modelo y cantante Carla Bruni. (Foto: AFP/Julien De Rosa).
Desde el primer día, el expresidente podrá pedir la libertad provisional ante la Cámara de Apelaciones. El tribunal tendrá hasta dos meses para responder.
Minutos antes de despedirse de su esposa, la cantante y modelo Carla Bruni, y de entregarse esta mañana, Sarkozy escribió en la red social X: “Esta mañana encierran a un inocente”. Denunció un “escándalo judicial” y un “viacrucis”, y aseguró: “La verdad triunfará, pero el precio a pagar habrá sido abrumador”.
Policías vigilan la cárcel de La Santé a la espera de la llegada de Nicolás Sarkozy. (Foto: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann).
Días atrás, contó al diario Le Figaro que entraría a la cárcel “con la cabeza alta”, acompañado por una biografía de Jesús y el clásico libro “El Conde de Montecristo”, símbolo de los inocentes injustamente condenados. Hojas para matar la soledad.
Nicolas Sarkozy, Francia, Cárceles, París
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