Judicial Watch has taken legal action by filing a federal lawsuit in an effort to compel the Central Intelligence
Agency to reveal any potential involvement it may have had at or near the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The lawsuit, filed on July 24 under the Freedom of Information Act, comes after Judicial Watch claims that the CIA disregarded its comprehensive FOIA request for records related to January 6.
The organization’s request includes 88 redacted records containing a series of text messages labeled ‘Jan. 7 Intel Chain’ that allude to the utilization or readiness of CIA assets on January 6.
Earlier in March, Judicial Watch released documents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives indicating that the CIA had “deployed personnel” in Washington, D.C. in connection with disturbances and demonstrations at the U.S. Capitol.
“Judicial Watch forced the Justice Department to admit CIA personnel were at the January 6, 2021, disturbance; now the CIA should come clean on exactly what its role at the protests was,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement.
ATF text messages were obtained by Judicial Watch as part of a 2023 lawsuit it filed against the U.S. Department of Justice.
The 88 pages of redacted records include a group of text messages tagged “Jan. 7 Intel Chain” that make reference to CIA assets in use or on standby on Jan. 6.
Several messages make mention of the pipe bomb discovered next to the Democratic National Committee headquarters building in Washington shortly after 1 p.m. on January 6th.
One text that appeared to be from someone at ATF read, “Our assets: SRT in Capitol with Group I, Groups II and III assisting with pipe-bomb scene on New Jersey and D St. SE.” The text that followed in response said, “FCI has two CIA bomb techs with us—EEO [redacted] in route.”
Bomb techs from the CIA are referenced in a text later on Jan. 6 that read, “Helping Capitol Police bomb squad clear Capitol.”
Another text described bomb-sniffing dog units that were available to help clear buildings: “7 NGA dog teams, 2 ATF and several CIA dog teams on standby.”
The Judicial Watch lawsuit seeks records in six categories: 1) shots fired inside the Capitol, 2) a person shot inside the Capitol, 3) requests for CIA support or assistance at the Capitol, 4) bomb technician support or assistance to any potential or actual bombs or explosive devices in response to the “massive protests” in and around the Capitol, 5) “accelerant or explosives K-9s (bomb detection dogs) placed on standby or used in response to Jan. 6 protests, and 6) any after-action reports about Jan. 6 events in Washington, D.C.
Judicial Watch’s FOIA request sought records from Jan. 6, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2021. As of Aug. 5, the CIA had not responded to the lawsuit.
On Jan. 5 or 6, 2021, two pipe bombs were placed near the Capitol: one behind the Republican National Committee office and another next to a park bench on the south side of the DNC.
The FBI believes the bombs were planted by an unidentified individual the night before. Despite extensive efforts and a $500,000 reward, no arrests have been made.
Security at the RNC alerted a Metropolitan Police Department officer about a potential bomb behind the building at 12:43 p.m. on Jan. 6. In response, U.S. Capitol Police dispatched counter-surveillance teams to check for additional devices at the DNC and other locations.
One of these officers found the DNC pipe bomb in bushes near a park bench at 1:05 p.m. He then approached Secret Service agents in nearby vehicles and informed them about the bomb.
At that time, Secret Service agents were guarding Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at the DNC, where she arrived for a meeting at 11:25 a.m. Video evidence released in July 2023 shows agents initially reacting casually before investigating.
A new report from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General criticizes the Secret Service for not utilizing a K-9 team to search for explosives near the DNC building bushes.
“The Secret Service’s inability to spot the pipe bomb on January 6 is part of the same pattern of incompetence that nearly led to the assassination of President [Donald] Trump,” Massie said. “The agency needs serious reform before another one of its protectees pays the ultimate price for its ongoing negligence.”
Blaze News contacted the Office of Public Affairs for a comment, but did not receive a response before the publication deadline.
6 Comments
CIA is part of the destruction of America since 2008 election.
They have probably destroyed most of the info
CIA knee deep in JFK assassination too! Why haven’t records been released after all these years? Smells bad!
The alphabet soup agencies are no longer subject to the courts, or the congress, and if they don’t like who is president, they can ignore him also! Our nation has been taken over by the nameless faceless bureaucrats that steal trillions from the citizens! The government is now rouge and runs operations against the very citizens they steal from!
Makes you wonder why the CIA is so scared of releasing factual records. Do they have something to hide? innocent people don’t act like that
I know Nancy Pelosi, CIA and FBI and perhaps Secret Service had a lot to do with staging the Jan. 6th Protest to Look Like more of an insurrection than it was planned. It is just plain dirty, disgusting politics and the blame on the current administration is front/center. How the left has the audacity to put people in jail for something for which the government was responsible is beyond me. I am elderly, a proud U.S. citizen and I am appalled by the creation change of Jan. 6th and the attempted assassination of our former President Trump. Shame on all involved.