Washington, D.C. — FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress for the first time since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and told a Senate Committee the attack was carried out by domestic terrorists.
“That attack, that siege, was criminal behavior plain and simple and it’s behavior that we, the FBI, view as domestic terrorism,” Wray said. “We at the FBI are determined to do our part to make sure that what happened on Jan. 6 doesn’t happen again.”
Wray defended the bureau’s handling of information about the threat of violence before the attack and rejected criticism from Capitol security officials who said the FBI didn’t do enough to communicate the warning.
Last week, the former U.S. Capitol Police Chief blamed a failure to adequately communicate the threat of violence for the unprepared response to the attack.
Wray said the FBI did in fact share information from a field office in Norfolk, Virginia the day before the insurrection by email, a verbal briefing and through a law enforcement portal.
Sen. Feinstein asked, "Why is the threat of white supremacist terrorism so prevalent in this country?"
— Samantha Manning (@SamManningNews) March 2, 2021
Wray: "Some of that is a sociological question that I’m not sure I’m the right person to address... It has been the biggest chunk of our domestic terrorism caseload overall.”
“My understanding is that information was quickly, as within an hour, disseminated and communicated with our partners including Capitol Police, including Metro Police, in three different ways,” Wray said.
Senators grilled Wray about that warning.
“Why hasn’t the FBI produced the Jan. 5, 2021 Norfolk memo to Congress?” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asked.
“That information is law enforcement sensitive,” Wray said. “I’m aware of the interest… and I can commit to you that I will get with my staff and see if we can make that available.”
Wray told Senators many of the suspected insurrectionists are associated with violent militia extremist groups or racially motivated groups.
Throughout his testimony so far, Wray has said the suspects identified in the Capitol insurrection have been associated with violent militia extremist groups, some racially motivated extremist groups. No evidence of Antifa at this time by FBI.
— Samantha Manning (@SamManningNews) March 2, 2021
He said there have been almost 300 arrests so far.
Democrats pressed Wray about misinformation about the suspects.
“Is there any evidence at all that it was organized or planned or carried out by groups like Antifa or Black Lives Matter?” Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) asked.
“We have not seen any evidence to that effect,” Wray said.
HAPPENING NOW: #FBI #Jacksonville and @MCSOFlorida have taken @FBIWFO wanted subject Michael Curzio of Summerfield, FL into custody. Curzio was among the first to be charged federally for his role in the assault on the U.S. Capitol on 1/6/21. More here: https://t.co/DaBsWo0cqk pic.twitter.com/lF8T64hBxw
— FBI Jacksonville (@FBIJacksonville) January 14, 2021
HAPPENING NOW: Special agents from #FBI #Jacksonville have Joseph R. Biggs of Ormond Beach, FL in custody for his role in the riot and assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Thanks to @DaytonaBchPD @VolusiaSheriff and @USAO_MDFL More here: https://t.co/Svkr7uHZvp. pic.twitter.com/zDmXHgHkN9
— FBI Jacksonville (@FBIJacksonville) January 20, 2021
HAPPENING NOW: Adam Avery Honeycutt of Orange Park, FL has been arrested by #FBI #Jacksonville for his role in the riot and siege at the U.S. Capitol on 1/6/21. Thanks to @DHSgov and @USAO_MDFL for assistance. Continue to check this page for updates: https://t.co/xBTaHRGBIB.
— FBI Jacksonville (@FBIJacksonville) February 11, 2021
#NEW: Video of Pert and Winn running out of the federal courthouse after facing charges in connection to #CapitolRiots. @ActionNewsJax https://t.co/H0UQO3FAhu pic.twitter.com/BHO3dlxRN1
— Ryan Nelson (@RyanANJax) January 26, 2021
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