FBI Director Kash Patel Refutes Trump Claims on January 6 Riot Agent Role

President Donald Trump accused the FBI of secretly placing 274 agents in the January 6 Capitol riot crowd, claiming they acted as agitators rather than law enforcement. FBI Director Kash Patel clarified that the agents were deployed after the riot began, primarily for crowd control, a mission outside standard FBI protocol, and denied that agents provoked the violence. Patel criticized former FBI Director Christopher Wray for allegedly misleading Congress about the FBI's role during the event. While the FBI acknowledged the presence of agents and confidential sources at the Capitol, there is no evidence any broke the law or instigated the riot. This dispute highlights ongoing political tensions about the FBI's involvement and the framing of responsibility for the January 6 attack. Patel emphasized the FBI's commitment to transparency and accountability as investigations continue.