An attorney for Ray Epps, a man seen on video wearing a Trump hat during the January 6 riot, says that his client has been informed by federal law enforcement officials that they intend to charge him in connection with the events of that day.
The revelation was made in a lawsuit that Epps filed against Fox News on Wednesday that accused the network and former host Tucker Carlson of defaming him.
Epps has long been accused by many of being an undercover federal agent who instigated some of the events of that day. He has strongly denied being a federal agent.
Buried deep in the lawsuit, Epps lawyer says that the DOJ recently informed Epps that it plans to prosecute him. Epps’ lawyer blamed Carlson for the potential forthcoming charges.
“Finally, in May 2023, the Department of Justice notified Epps that it would seek to charge him criminally for events on January 6, 2021—two-and-a-half years later,” the lawsuit said. “The relentless attacks by Fox and Mr. Carlson and the resulting political pressure likely resulted in the criminal charges.”
Epps was a central figure in the Capitol riot from the beginning.
The 62-year-old Marine veteran from Arizona is seen in multiple video clips from January 6 and the day before trying to whip up other Trump supporters to “go into the Capitol” the next day.
“I’ll say it. We need to go into the Capitol,” Epps says in one clip. At least four times on video, Epps repeats his call to action to “go into the Capitol.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray was grilled by lawmakers on Wednesday on a variety of issues, including Epps.
“I’m not going to engage here in a discussion about individual people who are or are not going to be prosecuted,” Wray responded.
Mairead Elordi contributed to this report.