The FBI clarified that 274 plainclothes agents were at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, sent in after the violence began to assist overwhelmed police with crowd control.

Director Kash Patel criticized former FBI Director Christopher Wray for not disclosing the presence of agents during multiple congressional testimonies.

President Trump claimed the agents acted improperly and demanded transparency about their identities and actions, alleging potential wrongdoing.

Inspector General Michael Horowitz reported that while FBI informants were present, they were not allowed to incite violence or enter the Capitol, and the agents were performing emergency support, not undercover operations, Fox News has reported.

Many agents were reportedly unhappy with the crowd-control assignment, which contradicted FBI protocols and training, and Patel emphasized the need for truthful testimony from agency leadership.