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.
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.
Read More 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.
“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.
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.
[ RELATED READING: U.S. Capitol riot: Orange Park man in federal custody in Jacksonville ]
[ CONTINUED READING: FBI Jacksonville announces arrest of Proud Boys member ]
[ RELATED: FBI Jacksonville helps track down Florida man wanted in U.S. Capitol siege ]
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Broken windows at an entrance to the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot A security checkpoint desk covered in dust at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot The sign in front of the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is damaged as seen in the early morning hours at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot A ceremonial door to the U.S. Capitol behind broken glass in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot An ATF police officer cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Members of U.S. Capitol Police inspect a damaged entrance of the U.S. Capitol on January 7, 2021, in Washington, DC. The U.S. Congress has finished the certification for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ electoral college win after pro-Trump mobs stormed the Capitol and temporarily stopped the process. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot A man takes a photo of broken windows near the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Dust and a gas mask are visible on the ground in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot A worker pushes a trash bin at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Police officers walk through the Capitol in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Workers clear trash from the East Front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot An ATF police officer cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Debris and personal belongings are strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours after protesters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and trash strewn across the floor in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot A worker cleans a copy of the Declaration of Independence at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., helps ATF police officers clean up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot A worker removes a Trump scarf from the East Front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Workers clean an office at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Broken glass lay on the floor inside the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. The House and Senate resumed a politically charged debate over the legitimacy of the presidential election hours after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol and drove lawmakers from their chambers. (Erin Scott/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., helps ATF police officers clean up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Overturned furniture and broken glass litter a hallway of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2021, one day after supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the building. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Chemical irritant canisters at a security checkpoint desk covered in dust at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., stops to look at damage in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Capitol workers remove damaged furniture on the first floor of the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday morning, January 7, 2021, following the riot at the Capitol the day before. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., second from left, walks past damage in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot A flag that reads "Treason" is visible on the ground in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Broken furniture and shattered glass at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot Capitol workers remove damaged furniture on the first floor of the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday morning, January 7, 2021, following the riot at the Capitol the day before. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag)
Damage seen in aftermath of US Capitol riot A discarded Gadsden flag inside the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. The House and Senate resumed a politically charged debate over the legitimacy of the presidential election hours after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol and drove lawmakers from their chambers. (Erin Scott/Bloomberg via Getty Images)