Three years after the Capitol riot shook Washington, a quiet Senate hearing has put new questions back in the spotlight, this time about the FBI.
Joseph Kent, chief of staff to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed on Wednesday that the U.S. intelligence community is now investigating whether the FBI was involved in the events of January 6, 2021.
“We’re looking into it right now,” Kent told senators, responding to a confirmation hearing question about his nomination to lead the National Counterterrorism Center. He did not disclose which agency is handling the review, but the acknowledgment alone was enough to reignite political tensions.
The statement aligns with Gabbard’s recent launch of a task force designed to root out politicisation within U.S. intelligence services. Her office later confirmed that the group is executing Trump-era executive orders to rebuild public trust.
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly challenged Kent’s earlier suggestions that law enforcement informants may have helped direct events on the ground. Kelly pointed to a Justice Department report from December, which stated 26 FBI informants were in Washington on January 6, but none had been authorised to breach the Capitol or incite unrest.
Kent pushed back, alleging that some informants were observed removing barriers and guiding crowds, and said the FBI’s Washington Field Office was probably involved. He offered no new evidence, only stating that the matter is being looked into.
Kent’s past colours the moment. A former Green Beret and CIA officer, he ran for Congress in 2022 with Gabbard’s endorsement and has publicly called January 6 defendants political prisoners.
He also declined to answer questions about his participation in a private Signal chat group with former Trump officials in which airstrikes in Yemen were discussed, now the subject of a Pentagon inspector general probe. Kent claimed the material shared in the chat was unclassified, but refused further comment citing ongoing litigation.
The FBI has consistently denied directing or inciting the January 6 riot. Over 1,500 individuals have been charged in relation to the attack, aimed at blocking the certification of Joe Biden’s election. Trump has since pardoned many of them.
With Kent’s confirmation hearing now on record, the investigation he acknowledged could cast fresh light, or fresh doubt, on one of America’s darkest political days. The search for accountability is far from over.
The United States launched fresh strikes on Iranian drone targets near Bandar Abbas after intercepting attack drones over the Strait of Hormuz, raisin...
Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz has taken steps towards potentially declaring a state of emergency as anti-government protests intensify in the earl...
Dozens of people were killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Tuesday, Lebanese officials said, straining a fragile ceasefire agreed between the cou...
Norway is set to come under France’s nuclear umbrella, marking a significant shift in European security arrangements as concerns grow over the Unite...
As Britain's sanctions on three Georgia-registered companies made headlines on 26 May, the Georgian side of the story was already complicated. The Nat...
The United States launched fresh strikes on Iranian drone targets near Bandar Abbas after intercepting attack drones over the Strait of Hormuz, raising tensions despite an existing ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Dozens of people were killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Tuesday, Lebanese officials said, straining a fragile ceasefire agreed between the countries in April. The attacks came as Iran accused the U.S. of violating a separate ceasefire with strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.
Norway is set to come under France’s nuclear umbrella, marking a significant shift in European security arrangements as concerns grow over the United States’ long-term commitment to the region.
Britain has announced fresh sanctions targeting cryptocurrency exchanges, financial networks and banks accused of helping Russia evade Western restrictions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 26 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Dozens of people were killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Tuesday, Lebanese officials said, straining a fragile ceasefire agreed between the countries in April. The attacks came as Iran accused the U.S. of violating a separate ceasefire with strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.
Chinese investigators have uncovered hidden tunnels, missing worker trackers and fake underground walls during an initial investigation into the country’s deadliest mining disaster in more than 15 years.
The new AnewZ documentary, TARGET: Yerevan, builds its explosive case on exclusive, secret recordings originally published by Minval Politika.
The visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Armenia marks one of the clearest signs yet of Washington’s growing interest in the South Caucasus.
Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz has taken steps towards potentially declaring a state of emergency as anti-government protests intensify in the early months of his administration.
Norway is set to come under France’s nuclear umbrella, marking a significant shift in European security arrangements as concerns grow over the United States’ long-term commitment to the region.
Britain has announced fresh sanctions targeting cryptocurrency exchanges, financial networks and banks accused of helping Russia evade Western restrictions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
China’s carbon emissions grew far less than previously thought over the past five years, according to a new analysis that is drawing close attention from climate researchers worldwide.
Muslims around the world have marked Eid al-Adha with prayers, celebrations and acts of charity, though for many Palestinians the holiday unfolded amid conflict, restrictions and loss.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment