Ted Cruz asks if FBI Was Involved in Jan. 6, Top Official Refuses to Answer

Ted Cruz bluntly asked Jill Sanborn, the FBI executive assistant director for national security, whether or not the FBI actively played a part in Jan. 6.

Sanborn refused to answer.

Cruz specifically cited multiple videos of Ray Epps actively encouraging protestors to enter the Capitol building on that day.

He asked Sanborn why Epps was taken off of the FBI’s list of potential suspects, and why he has yet to be charged with anything.

Sanborn would only say that she was “aware” of Epps, but didn’t have any information on him.

When asked if Epps was a fed, she responded “Sir, I cannot answer that question.”

Basically, the FBI will not confirm or deny anything here.

Here is the exchange between Cruz and Sanborn:

Hate @TedCruz all you want but these questions about FBI's role in 1/6 are vital: because it's what FBI did in the 1st War on Terror and with the Whitmer case, but also because there's ample evidence they did it here. The media's indifference is shameful:pic.twitter.com/68114jle6A

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 11, 2022

FBI played dumb on all of @SenTedCruz questions. His video clearest show of Feds inciting J6…

Ted Cruz grills FBI on Ray Epps, asks if FBI had informants on Jan. 6 https://t.co/DZqqJ3B3cO

— Paul Bedard (@SecretsBedard) January 11, 2022

The Washington Examiner has details on the exchange:

Jill Sanborn, the FBI’s executive assistant director for the national security branch, refused to answer key questions, saying she could not disclose “sources and methods.” Sanborn said she was not aware of any FBI agents inciting violent or criminal conduct on Jan. 6.

Cruz cited a video showing Epps encouraging people to enter the Capitol. The crowd accused him of being a federal agent. Cruz said Epps was initially put on a list from the FBI looking for information on the Capitol riot. He also said Epps was taken off the public posting later and has not been charged to date.

Sanborn said she was familiar with Epps but could not answer Cruz’s question about whether he was an FBI agent. Sanborn also noted that she did not have “the specific background on him.”

FBI Won't Answer @tedcruz: Did FBI Agents Participate in Jan 6 Events?https://t.co/1DbMJTn5FI

— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) January 11, 2022

Cruz asks FBI's Jill Sanborn if any FBI agents or informants participated in the Jan. 6 attack. Sanborn declines to answer

— Betsy Woodruff Swan (@woodruffbets) January 11, 2022

Cruz: Did any FBI agents or CIs commit crimes of violence on J6?
Sanborn: "I can't answer that"
Cruz: "Did any FBI agents or CIs actively encourage and incite crimes of violence on J6?"
Sanborn: "I can't answer that"
Cruz: Who is Ray Epps?
Sanborn: Aware, don't know background

— Benjamin Weingarten (@bhweingarten) January 11, 2022

Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are taking on two of Americas greatest threats today.

Fauci and the FBI

— Cassandras Fortune Telling (@Cassandrasquips) January 11, 2022

This is a complete mess.

The American people demand answers, and so far, the FBI is refusing to give any.

This will only make people trust them even less, and rightfully so.

If the FBI did not participate in or encourage the rioting on January 6th, they would just say so. “No comment” is confirmation that they did exactly that. https://t.co/0ZVkNKXlT6

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) January 11, 2022

https://twitter.com/TOOEdit/status/1480976810967924740?s=20

A sincere message to journalists out there. Here we have a senior FBI official refusing to tell the U.S. Senate whether or not they actively participated in the events of Jan. 6. This seems worthy of at least honestly exploring, right? https://t.co/xiZgYvPXCV

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 11, 2022