Ray Epps Charged Over Jan. 6

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Facts

  • On Monday, Ray Epps, a former member of the Oath Keepers, was charged with one misdemeanor count for disorderly or disruptive conduct on restricted grounds in connection with the Jan. 6 riots at the US Capitol in 2021.1
  • Epps was charged by information, which may suggest he intends to enter a plea deal, with a virtual plea agreement hearing set for Wednesday.2
  • Court filings accuse Epps of intentionally disrupting government business through his actions on the grounds of the Capitol, though he has denied inciting a riot on Jan. 6.3
  • Meanwhile, prominent conservatives, including Tucker Carlson, have accused Epps of being a federal agent after a video appeared to show him encouraging the riots. Epps' limited law enforcement scrutiny until now fueled allegations that he worked with the government.4
  • Epps filed a defamation lawsuit earlier this year over a segment that featured him on Tucker Carlson's show, alleging that, as a result of the accusations, he and his family faced threats and were forced to move from their home in Arizona.1
  • Epps has repeatedly denied any allegations that he incited the riot on Jan. 6, telling the House select committee investigating the riots in a closed-door interview as well as FBI agents interviewing him in the months after Jan. 6 that he has no ties to the FBI or law enforcement.3

Sources: 1Abc news, 2NBC, 3CNN and 4Daily Caller.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by The seattle times. While Epps was a participant in the Jan. 6 attack, he went of his own volition, not as a liberal false flag agent. The conspiracy theories claiming that he was a federal agent sent to incite a riot and convince peaceful protestors to commit violence are unfounded and have been disproven. While this court case may show that Epps is guilty of participating in the events of Jan. 6, he's no more guilty than anyone else there that day.
  • Republican narrative, as provided by Federalist. Regardless of whether the accusations against Epps hold water, this slap-on-the-wrist charge and likely plea deal raise questions. In the face of Proud Boys members — some of whom weren't even in Washington, DC, on Jan. 6 — serving decades-long prison sentences, Epps' misdemeanor charge is, at best, offensive and, at worst, suspect. Either way, there must be more transparency.