The FBI has acknowledged having at least 275 plainclothes agents in the crowds at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, more than four years after questions arose about their presence. The revelation, disclosed to Congress, contradicts previous statements from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Inspector General, which claimed in December 2024 that the FBI had no “undercover employees” at the Capitol on that day.
A senior congressional source noted the number was not entirely unexpected, as the FBI often deploys countersurveillance personnel at large events. However, the figure remains contentious given the FBI’s prior refusal to confirm its involvement. The DOJ OIG report cited 26 FBI confidential human sources in the crowds, four of whom entered the Capitol, though none were authorized to break laws or incite illegal activity.
The disclosure has reignited calls for transparency, with critics questioning the agents’ role. Were they merely monitoring protests, or did they act as agitators? The FBI’s initial reluctance to address these questions has fueled skepticism about the full scope of its actions on January 6.