More than two years after the events of January 6, 2021, Ray Epps, a shadowy figure at the fringe of multiple theories regarding the Capitol incursion, was charged by the Department of Justice, according to a lawsuit he filed.

The claim is contained within a defamation litigation filed by Epps against Fox News. In the lawsuit, Epps holds former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson responsible for putting him in the spotlight, which ultimately led to threats from Trump supporters and charges against him.

Epps was prominently featured in multiple videos of the incursion. Epps was initially depicted on an FBI wanted notice in the days following January 6; however, he was removed from the list in July 2021. Since Epps was not charged, widespread rumors circulated that he was a federal agent stirring up the emotions of protesters.

Epps stated in an April “60 Minutes” interview that he cooperated with the FBI and told his story. He had not been accused with a crime at that time.

However, according to the lawsuit, everything soon changed.

“Finally, in May 2023, the Department of Justice notified Epps that it would seek to charge him criminally for events on Jan. 6, 2021 — two-and-a-half years later. The relentless attacks by Fox and Mr. Carlson and the resulting political pressure likely resulted in the criminal charges,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit did not specify the amount of these fees. As of Thursday, Epps had not been charged in federal court in Washington, D.C., in connection with the incursion.

“Although it is difficult to believe that the Department of Justice would have pursued this matter if Fox had not focused its lies on Epps, ultimately the criminal charges conclusively demonstrate the falsehood of the story that Mr. Carlson and Fox told about Epps,” the lawsuit said.

“Epps was not a federal agent. He was a loyal Fox viewer and Trump supporter. Had the Department of Justice charged Epps in 2021, Mr. Carlson would have hailed Epps a hero. Instead, Fox and Mr. Carlson made Epps the central figure in a lie they concocted about Jan. 6, 2021. After destroying Epps’s reputation and livelihood, Fox will move on to its next story, while Ray and Robyn live in a 350-square foot RV and face harassment and fear true harm. Fox must be held accountable,” the lawsuit said.

According to the Arizona Republic, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that he was unaware that Epps was a “secret government agent.”

More on this story via The Western Journal:

“I will say this notion that somehow the violence at the Capitol on January 6 was part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources and agents is ludicrous,” he said. CONTINUE READING…