Senate Republicans are pressing for more clarity regarding the involvement of confidential human sources from Justice Department agencies beyond the FBI during the events of January 6, 2021. Inspector General Michael Horowitz recently released a report indicating that there were over two dozen FBI confidential human sources present outside the Capitol on that day, with only three of them being officially assigned by the bureau.
The report stated that none of the sources were authorized to engage in illegal activities or encourage others to do so. However, Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson are now questioning whether Horowitz thoroughly reviewed communications between handlers and sources, expressing concerns about potential gaps in the findings.
Grassley emphasized the need for a comprehensive understanding of the presence and roles of Justice Department sources from various agencies at the Capitol on January 6. Johnson echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the public may not have the full story based on the initial report.
In a letter to Horowitz, the senators highlighted the extensive documentation received by the inspector general's office during the investigation, including reports, tips, records, emails, and more. They urged Horowitz to provide a detailed account of the records obtained from all DOJ component agencies.
Grassley and Johnson are specifically seeking information on whether undercover confidential human sources were deployed by other DOJ agencies in the D.C. area on January 6, as well as details on communications between handlers and sources. They also requested access to confidential source reporting documents used in the investigation.
While Horowitz's initial report indicated that FBI confidential human sources were not directed to engage in illegal activities on January 6, the senators are pushing for a more thorough examination of the overall use of confidential sources during the events of that day.
The report also revealed that the FBI had a limited role in responding to the events of January 6, as the situation was not classified as the highest security level by the Department of Homeland Security. Despite this, Horowitz commended the FBI for its preparations and response.
