No evidence US Capitol rioters participate in antifa movements, FBI chief Wray testifies

FBI Director Chris Wray found on Tuesday (Mar 2) debunked conspiracy theories promoted by right-wing supporters of former President Donald Trump, saying there is no evidence that leftist extremists disguised themselves as Trump supporters to storm the US Capitol.

In testimony to the US Senate Judiciary Committee, Wray likewise told lawmakers that the Federal Bureau of Investigation views the actions of the rioters on Jan 6 as "domestic terrorism," and vowed to carry them accountable.

"We have not to date viewed any proof any anarchist violent extremists or persons subscribing to antifa in connection with the 6th," he testified, discussing the loosely organized anti-fascist movement.

"That doesn't mean we're not looking and we'll continue to look, but at the moment, we have not seen that."

Tuesday was Wray's first testimony in Congress since the attack, a failed bid to block Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden's November election victory. The attack occurred immediately after Republican Trump, in a speech nearby the White House, exhorted his supporters to march to the Capitol, having repeated his false promises that the election was stolen from him.

The Justice Department has charged more than 300 persons with crimes ranging from conspiracy to attacking police and obstructing Congress. The rioting remaining five dead.

At least 18 people associated with the far-best Proud Boys have been charged and nine persons linked with the anti-government militia referred to as the Oath Keepers are facing charges they conspired dating back to November to storm the Capitol to avoid Biden from becoming president.

Biden took office in Jan 20.

Wray revealed that because the attacks, the FBI has also seen instances of "foreign adversaries" who have been "leveraging the events of Jan. 6 to amplify their individual narratives" and force propaganda.

He did not provide additional details, saying he cannot do so within an unclassified setting.

Supporters of Trump experience repeatedly made unsubstantiated promises the rioters were actually fake Trump supporters who all participate in antifa. They also have repeated Trump's false promises that the election was stolen because of widespread fraud.

Wray told lawmakers on Tuesday this narrative was false.

To the contrary, he stated, a number of the rioters participate in far-right militia actions, or were motivated by racial ideologies - but none to date may actually participate in any left-wing groups.

The anti-government militia extremists, he noted, appears to be the "biggest bucket" that's trending as the FBI examines the backgrounds of the rioters.

Wray said he stood by responses created by former Attorney General Bill Barr, who exactly had infuriated Trump after the election when he said the Justice Department did not have evidence of any widespread election fraud.

"We are not aware of any widespread evidence of voter fraud, significantly less that would have affected the results of the presidential election," Wray told lawmakers.

The FBI has yet to arrest any suspects in the death of Capitol Officer Brian Sicknick, or for pipe bombs which were discovered beyond your headquarters of both Republican and Democratic countrywide committees.

The FBI has obtained a video that shows a suspect spraying bear spray on cops, including Sicknick, according to a police source acquainted with the investigation.

The suspect has yet to be determined by name, in fact it is still unclear if the bear spray contributed to Sicknick's death.

Wray said he cannot disclose a good cause of death, and Sicknick's death continues to be under investigation.

In a newly unsealed search warrant, investigators declare rioters carried weapons in the Capitol including tire irons, sledge hammers, tasers, bear spray and, in at least one case, a handgun with a protracted magazine.

Investigators like the FBI attended under scrutiny above why more had not been done to protect the Capitol ahead of the attack.

Your day before, the FBI's Norfolk, Virginia, office distributed a raw, unverified intelligence report which warned that violent extremists intended to disrupt Congress.

Wray told lawmakers the intelligence was first shared with other law enforcement agencies three different ways, but acknowledged he personally didn't see the article until a couple of days later.

As to the reasons other top police did not view it, Wray said: "I don't possess a good response to that."

Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, said to Wray: "What I don't understand is why this ... raw intelligence didn't prompt a more robust warning and alarm."