‘How Many Are Feds?’ Sen. Mike Lee Pushes Jan. 6 Disinformation

The senator alleged {that a} man carrying a vape was truly flashing a regulation enforcement badge

Sen. Mike Lee perpetuated an unfounded conspiracy principle that federal brokers or informants had been among the many rioters on Jan. 6 and that one could have flashed a regulation enforcement badge in the course of the assault (in actuality, it was a vape). In two posts to X (previously Twitter) over the weekend, the Republican indulged in a MAGA disinformation marketing campaign.

Lee quoted a put up from former Jan. 6 committee member Liz Cheney that contained footage of the Capitol assault, writing, “Liz, we’ve seen footage like that one million instances. You made positive we noticed that—and nothing else. It’s the opposite stuff—what you intentionally hid from us—that we discover so upsetting. Good strive.”

He then added, “P.S. What number of of those guys are feds? (As if you happen to’d ever inform us).”

Then on Saturday, Lee quoted a put up from a Republican former West Virginia legislator Derrick Evans who requested if a picture from a Jan. 6 video contained in the Capitol exhibits a rioter “flashing a badge?”

“In that case, this may show there have been undercover federal brokers disguised as MAGA,” Evans wrote.

Lee quoted Evans’ put up and wrote, “I can’t wait to ask FBI Director Christopher Wray about this at our subsequent oversight listening to. I predict that, as at all times, his solutions will likely be 97% information-free.”

You would possibly pause and surprise, is the particular person behind the account with the deal with @BasedMikeLee actually a U.S. senator? However it’s. Lee confirmed to The Salt Lake Tribune in 2022 that the account is his.

The person pictured with the alleged badge is Trump supporter Kevin Lyons, who’s proven in a separate photograph carrying a vape in his hand. Twitter appended two reality checks to the tweets, writing that Lyons “shouldn’t be a police officer and isn’t holding a badge. He’s carrying a vape and {a photograph} and pockets stolen from Pelosi’s workplace.”

Even when Lyons had been a federal agent, he would definitely be going to nice lengths to disguise his affiliation. Lyons is presently serving a four-year prison sentence for his actions within the Capitol, which embody stealing a pockets and taking a framed photograph of the late Rep. John Lewis from then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s workplace.

Earlier than his sentencing, Lyons informed the decide, “I’m an fool, I understand that. I used to be silly. I don’t know what came visiting me. … I apologize to you, the nation and my household.”

Fox Information host Maria Bartiromo introduced up the conspiracy principle on her present Sunday, asking former speaker Kevin McCarthy concerning the rumors that federal belongings had been concerned. “Speaker, I need to be actual particular,” she stated. “There are questions relating to FBI informants that had been in Trump clothes across the Capitol on that day, all through the group. Do you’ve any insights for us relating to their position in these occasions, the FBI’s position?”

McCarthy stated he was not conscious of it. “I personally don’t. That’s the committee. I might be sure to take a look at that and see all that and get extra data,” he stated. “I do know the director of the FBI has been requested this query quite a few instances. [Republican Rep.] Thomas Massey is the one engaged on this, and I feel he’d have larger perception for you.”

Home Speaker Mike Johnson stated Friday that he intends to launch all 44,000 hours of Jan. 6 footage to the general public, which might fulfill a vow he made to appease his celebration’s right-wing whereas campaigning for the speakership. By Friday afternoon, 90 hours of the footage was posted to the Home Administration Committee’s web site.

GOP Rep. Clay Higgins asked FBI Director Christopher Wray concerning the conspiracy principle final week throughout a listening to of the Home Homeland Safety Committee. Wray has lengthy denied federal brokers being concerned within the riot or its planning.

“If you happen to’re asking whether or not the violence on the Capitol on Jan. 6 was a part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources and/or brokers… the reply is an emphatic no,” Wray stated.