FBI agents felt like ‘pawns in a political war’ during Jan. 6 response, internal report shows

Published September 26, 2025 2:49pm ET



More than 250 FBI agents deployed in plainclothes to the United States Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot were left without proper safety equipment, clear instructions, or identifiable markings, a disorganized response that prompted a wave of internal complaints accusing FBI leadership of politicization and double standards, according to a newly released after-action report.

The document, reviewed by the House Judiciary Committee and obtained by Just the News on Thursday, includes more than 50 pages of feedback from FBI personnel, many assigned to the Washington Field Office, who described their deployment that day as chaotic and politically compromised. Several agents said they felt the bureau had become “infected” by partisan ideology and criticized FBI leaders for treating the Jan. 6 rioters differently than protesters from the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and riots.

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