A 2023 whistleblower has alleged that FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate instructed subordinates to conceal the identities of at least 25 confidential informants who were present at the January 6, 2021, protests. According to investigative journalist Kerry Picket, Abbate reportedly stated that revealing the informants’ involvement would be too embarrassing for the agency, prompting the decision to keep their existence hidden from the public.
The whistleblower’s disclosure was presented to the House Judiciary Committee, which has been examining allegations of politically motivated investigations and leadership bias within the FBI. The committee heard that Abbate told agents the informants’ activities should remain secret due to the potential fallout from public exposure.
In a report released Thursday by DOJ Inspector General David Horowitz, the Department of Justice admitted to deploying 26 “confidential human sources” during the January 6 protests. The report noted that four of these informants entered the U.S. Capitol, while 13 others entered restricted areas. However, critics argue that these numbers are likely incomplete and do not account for additional undercover agents or operatives working within the crowd.
This revelation comes as the FBI faces growing scrutiny over its handling of January 6 investigations and transparency. Many have questioned why the agency failed to acknowledge the presence of informants earlier, and whether the involvement of these sources influenced the events of that day. The IG report did not disclose the number of undercover agents, sparking further skepticism.
Critics, including The Gateway Pundit, have long reported on intelligence operatives and “cutouts” embedded within the protest crowd. These revelations, combined with former President Donald Trump’s unheeded request for National Guard deployment, raise significant questions about the narrative surrounding the January 6 events.
The controversy continues to fuel debates over the FBI’s role, transparency, and potential misuse of informants in politically charged investigations.
