The FBI had informants in Washington as the U.S. Capitol was breached on Jan. 6, 2021, according to an inspector general report released on Dec. 12.
U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz revealed, in a report years in the making, that the agency had 29 confidential human sources (CHSs) in D.C., some of whom contributed to the prosecution of members of the Proud Boys and others who took part in the breach.
Horowitz also said that there was no evidence that any undercover FBI agents went to the Capitol that day.
Four of the informants entered the Capitol and 13 others entered the restricted Capitol grounds, although they had not been authorized to do so.
Two of the FBI’s sources were asked to report on subjects the FBI had learned were traveling to D.C. that day, and a third was assigned after notifying the agency that he intended to travel to the area that day.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, which has charged more than 1,500 people with crimes related to the breach, told the inspector general that the office “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on Jan. 6, 2021, was to enter the restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol ... and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.”
Horowitz said that the review found the FBI took significant and appropriate steps leading up to Jan. 6 to prepare for its role that day, which was a supporting capacity.
The preparation included trying to identify known domestic terror subjects who planned to travel to Washington for the certification of electoral votes.
The inspector general’s office concluded “that the FBI effectively carried out its tactical support function on Jan. 6,” but criticized the agency for not canvassing local field offices for intelligence ahead of time.
—Zachary Stieber; Stacy Robinson
1,500 BENEFIT FROM BIDEN PARDONS, COMMUTATIONS
President Joe Biden on Thursday commuted the sentences of around 1,500 people convicted of crimes, and pardoned 39 people.
The vast swath of pardons set a new record for presidential forgiveness in a single day.
“As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for nonviolent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses,” Biden said in a statement.
The commutations announced on Thursday are for people who have served out home confinement sentences for at least one year after they were released.
Some of these were sent home to serve out their sentences as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, to limit the spread of the virus.
The shortened sentences were extended to those who “have shown successful rehabilitation and a strong commitment to making their communities safer,” and “successfully reintegrated into their families and communities.”
Pardons were reserved for those convicted of nonviolent offenses such as drug crimes, the White House said.
Earlier this month, the president pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, for two federal tax and gun convictions, which were scheduled for sentencing in the coming weeks.
Biden also pardoned his son for any other crime he may have committed between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 1, 2024.
The pardon of the president’s son drew bipartisan criticism, with Democrat Colorado Gov. Jared Polis saying it sets a “bad precedent” that might be abused by future presidents.
It’s customary for a president to grant pardons or commutations at the end of his term, using the power of the office to wipe away records or end prison terms.
A pardon forgives federal criminal offenses; a commutation reduces penalties but isn’t as sweeping. These are known as “acts of clemency.”
In his first term, President Donald Trump granted 237 acts of clemency, while President Barack Obama granted clemency 1,927 times in his eight years.
Notably, in 1974, President Gerald Ford preemptively pardoned his predecessor, Richard Nixon, months after he resigned from office following the Watergate scandal.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said in an interview last month, that if it’s clear by Jan. 19 that it appears some prominent individuals could be targeted, “then I would recommend to President Biden that he provide those preemptive pardons to people because that’s really what our country is going to need next year.”
In his statement on Thursday, Biden suggested he would issue similar orders before leaving office on Jan. 20, 2025, saying he “will take more steps in the weeks ahead.”
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the former House Democrat majority whip, suggested that Biden should pardon Trump.
“And I think he should pardon all of those people that have been accused and have been targeted so we can clean the slate and have an air of possibilities for the future,” Clyburn said.
—Jack Philips; Stacy Robinson
BOOKMARKS
President-elect Donald Trump has been named Time Magazine’s 2024 Person of the Year, and the outlet has released a wide-ranging interview with him. Topics covered include Trump’s deportation plans, Ukraine, vaccines, and his respect for the filibuster.
The Department of Homeland Security has announced its fourth deportation in six months of Chinese illegal immigrants. The charter flight of illegals contained 119 individuals, many of whom were brought in by smuggling networks.
The House of Representatives approved a bill on Dec. 12 expanding the judiciary by 66 district court judgeships nationwide. The bill, known as the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024, originally had bipartisan support, but President Joe Biden has now promised to veto it.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Thursday announced a change to bank overdraft charges will come into effect next October. The banks will have options, including capping fees at $5, or treating them as loans if the banks disclose interest rates ahead of time.
Donald Trump has no desire to wade into the debate over which bathrooms may be used by those identifying as transgender. “I don’t want to get into the bathroom issue, because it’s a very small number of people we’re talking about, and it’s ripped apart our country, so they'll have to settle whatever the law finally agrees,” he said.
The State Department’s Global Engagement Center, which purported to combat disinformation but may have unfairly censored Americans, is expected to close on Dec. 23. The entity’s eight years of funding has dried up, and Congress is not expected to renew it.
