Arizona’s infamous instigator involved in the January 6 Capitol invasion, Ray Epps, was sentenced to a year-long probation and a $500 fine.
Epps appeared for sentencing virtually on Tuesday before Chief Judge James Boasberg. The judge expressed hope that the sentencing would allow Epps, a former Oath Keepers Arizona president, to move past the incident.
“[You were] vilified in a matter unique to January 6 defendants,” said Boasberg. “[You were] the only one who suffered for what you didn’t do.”
Contrary to allegations based on video evidence of Epps’ actions preceding and during the Capitol invasion, both Epps and the federal government have repeatedly denied that Epps has ever served as a federal employee, agent, or source.
“Mr. Epps […] was not before, during, or after [January 6, 2021] a confidential source or undercover agent working on behalf of the government, the FBI, or any law enforcement agency,” stated prosecutor Michael Gordon in a September plea hearing.
In a response to the government’s sentencing memo, issued on Sunday, Epps denied that he assisted in the breach of the capitol in any manner. Epps characterized himself as “stuck” in the crowd of protestors pushing against the fence line.
“[Epps] is the victim of a conspiracy theory, not the propagator of one,” stated the response.
Various video evidence of Epps shows him urging and directing protestors to breach the Capitol the day before and day of the invasion, as well as entering the Capitol grounds after the fence barrier was pushed over.
In one video, Epps said something in the ear of another protestor, Ryan Samsel; seconds later, Samsel led the charge to destroy the first set of Capitol barricades and breach the restricted grounds. The rioters then toppled a second set of barricades to further breach the restricted grounds. Epps followed behind the rioters in both breachings.
Samsel told the FBI that Epps told him to “relax” and that law enforcement was “doing their job.”
The government’s statement of offense, issued last September, documented Epps’ actions as well. That statement also revealed that Epps claimed in a text to a family member that he “orchestrated” the breaching.
Two days after the Capitol riot, Epps called the FBI tip line to turn himself in after seeing his face on a Most Wanted list. Several days after that, the Arizona Republic interviewed Epps; he told the outlet that he was advised by an attorney not to speak about the incident and that he “didn’t do anything wrong.”
Federal agents didn’t arrest Epps despite his admission to them and media outlets of his involvement: instead, they conducted a second interview with him that March. Several months later, in July, the FBI removed Epps from their Most Wanted list.
Prosecutors then waited over two years to charge Epps for his role in the Capitol invasion. He was charged with disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds (Title 18 U.S. Code Section 1752(a)(2)). Epps pleaded guilty.
Epps told reporters in the summer of 2022 that he avoided arrest because he reached out to the FBI so quickly.
BREAKING: Ray Epps, the only January 6 protester who actually told people to go into the Capitol, has been officially sentenced to one year probation, $500 restitution, and 100 hours community service.
As of this report, Epps’ name wasn’t included in the D.C. Attorney’s Office list of the over 1,100 Capitol breach cases. Over 750 others have been sentenced so far.
11 other breachers arrested in Arizona were included on the list:
Nathan Entrekin, sentenced to 45 days in prison, three years of probation, 60 hours of community service, and $500 fine;
Andrew Hatley, sentenced to three years of probation and a $500 fine;
Joshua Knowles, not yet sentenced;
James McGrew, sentenced to six years and six months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $7,000 in fines;
Felicia Konold, not yet sentenced;
Edward Vallejo, sentenced to three years in prison, three years of supervised release, and one year of house arrest;
Micajah Jackson, sentenced to three years of probation and $1,500 in fines;
Jacob Anthony Chansley, sentenced to three years and five months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $2,000 fine;
Jacob Zerkle, not yet sentenced;
Cory Konold, not yet sentenced; and
Israel Mark Matson, not yet sentenced.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee rejected a resolution requiring the Department of Justice (DOJ) to turn over records on federal agents or assets that encouraged protesters to enter the Capitol on January 6.
The original version of the resolution, introduced by Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04) last Friday, focused solely on Ray Epps, an Arizona man and former Oath Keeper leader accused of working as a federal informant. During Wednesday’s hearing, Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY-04) amended the resolution to focus on federal involvement.
While Republicans urged transparency concerning Epps’ involvement, Democrats claimed ignorance or avoidance of the topic. Aside from Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), who called Epps a “poor schmuck” being demonized by his own party, Democrats focused on expressing disdain for Republican characterizations of the January 6 riot.
ICYMI today: @RepThomasMassie amended @RepGosar resolution for DOJ records on #RayEpps , broadened to focus on "agents or assets of federal government who encouraged protesters to enter the Capitol building on January 6." House Judiciary Committee rejected it.
Massie urged the committee to pass the resolution, noting that the Biden administration hasn’t been completely transparent about Epps. He declared that the DOJ’s lack of interest in Epps defied logic, especially since the Biden administration prosecuted all other January 6 rioters and launched a formal committee to investigate the riot.
Massie showed multiple video clips of Epps telling protesters on January 5 and 6 to “go into the Capitol.” Massie stated that Epps is the only person on video telling protestors to go into the Capitol, noting that the first breach of the Capitol grounds occurred directly after Epps whispered into one of the trespasser’s ears.
Massie recounted investigative reporters’ details of the FBI’s action or inaction concerning Epps. This included the Revolver News reports (first and second) that the FBI listed Epps initially on their Most Wanted page for January 6 rioters, but later removed him without explanation. This also included Epoch Times reports (first and second) that Epps was the only protestor that had a premonition of the pipe bombs discovered on January 6. Additionally, this included New York Times reporting on Epps’ alleged text messages to his nephew admitting that he helped people breach the Capitol.
“[Epps’ involvement is] easily proven false if they would release this information. If the federal government would tell us, point-blank, no uncertain terms, under oath, not some staffer, not some statement released on some hearsay, not by leaking it to the New York Times, not by trying to soften the blow by putting things out in the press, just come here and tell us,” said Massie.
Massie rejected the House Select Committee to Investigate January 6 (January 6 Committee) assessment of Epps. In January, the committee revealed that Epps told them that he wasn’t working with or for any law enforcement agency on or before January 6. According to Massie, the committee promised to release a transcript of their interview with Epps. They haven’t.
The Select Committee is aware of unsupported claims that Ray Epps was an FBI informant based on the fact that he was on the FBI Wanted list and then was removed from that list without being charged.
Congressman Dan Bishop (R-NC-09) remarked that there are different standards of justice for Republicans versus Democrats: former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago documents versus Hillary Clinton’s emails, the months of Black Lives Matter (BLM) riots nationwide in 2020 versus the single afternoon of rioting last January.
“[M]any Americans believe there is a dual standard of justice in the country,” said Bishop. “Nothing reinforces Americans’ sense of a dual standard of justice more than the vehement embrace by Democrats of unequal consequences for like conduct. And it is done all the time.”
Watch the full debate on the resolution below:
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
On Friday, Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04) requested that the Department of Justice (DOJ) turn over all records concerning an Arizona man accused of working as a federal informant: Ray Epps.
In a press release, Gosar said it was suspicious that Epps was never arrested or charged with a crime despite inciting illegal activity. Last January 5 and 6, Epps encouraged and directed protestors to breach the Capitol building.
“If the Department of Justice has nothing to hide and is genuinely interested in what happened on January 6, they should release every piece of information relating to Ray Epps’ involvement on that day,” stated Gosar. “Then and only then will the American people know what really happened.”
The first to question Epps’ January 6 involvement was Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY-04) last October. Massie asked Attorney General Merrick Garland whether federal agents were present and encouraged protestors to go into the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
I questioned Attorney General Garland about whether there were Federal Agents present on 1/6 and whether they agitated to go into the Capitol. Attorney General Garland refused to answer. pic.twitter.com/RHq3Yd2pbu
Further details about Epps’ January 6 involvement were uncovered through investigative reporting by Darren Beattie, Revolver News founder and former White House speechwriter.
Our biggest and most comprehensive investigative piece yet
Meet Ray Epps…the apparent orchestrator of the Capitol breach on 1/6 https://t.co/saTntaxk7O
Epps appeared on the FBI Capitol Violence Most Wanted List within several days of the January 6 riot. The public and mainstream media identified him quickly. However, the FBI didn’t arrest or charge Epps. Last July, they removed Epps from their list.
A year later, this July, TheNew York Times featured Epps in an article discussing how accusations of federal informacy ruined his life. Epps said that he and his wife plan to file a defamation lawsuit against those levying accusations of government collusion. Elsewhere, he cited Revolver News and Fox News’ Tucker Carlson as the main sources of many of his problems.
Epps also claimed to the outlet that he avoided arrest because he reached out to the FBI on January 8, the day that the agency included his picture on their Most Wanted list. After less than an hour on the phone, and a March 2021 in-person interview with federal agents, the FBI reportedly cleared Epps of wrongdoing.
In January, the House’s January 6 Committee revealed that they spoke with Epps. According to their account of the private interview, the committee said that Epps denied any involvement as a law enforcement informant or employee.
The Select Committee is aware of unsupported claims that Ray Epps was an FBI informant based on the fact that he was on the FBI Wanted list and then was removed from that list without being charged.
Epps was the former president of the Oath Keepers Arizona chapter. The Oath Keepers are a militia organization that believes the federal government is controlled by figures attempting to take away American rights. According to archives of the chapter website, Epps served as president from 2011 until at least 2014. Another individual, Gerald Rhoades, served as the chapter’s vice president.
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was arrested for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot. Although 10 other Oath Keepers faced charges as well, Epps didn’t.
AZ Free News reached out to Epps for comment, and to ask him about his thoughts on the trials against January 6 participants. He didn’t respond by press time.
Extended Notes on the Timeline:
January 5-6, 2021: In one video, Epps advanced along the path where his group of fellow protestors pushed back the barricade around the Capitol. In another video, Epps declared that he and other protestors were “holding ground” while inside restricted Capitol grounds.
January 8, 2021: The FBI includes Epps in their Capitol Violence Most Wanted list, identified as the now-deleted Photograph #16. Epps claimed in a later interview with New York Times that “a family member” notified him that same day that “the FBI issued a be-on-the-lookout alert in his name.” The FBI never identified Epps by name. Epps told the outlet that he called the FBI tip line to turn himself in, and spoke with agents for less than an hour. Epps wasn’t arrested.
January 11, 2021: The Arizona Republicinterviews Epps. At the time, Epps refused to comment on whether he knew he was on the FBI’s list. Epps denied that he wanted people to go “into the Capitol,” as he said in video evidence, but rather “go in the doors like everyone else. It was totally, totally wrong the way they [the protestors] went in.”
March 2021: Epps reportedly spoke again with federal agents, this time in person. He told them that he tried to calm down protestors, not incite them, as confirmed by a New York Times review of interview transcripts, which weren’t shared.
January 11, 2022: The House’s January 6 Committee discloses that they spoke with Epps, though they don’t publicize the interview. FBI official Jill Sanborn refuses to give details about Epps to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
March 29, 2022: The DOJ promises to provide a “disclosure” about Epps to several individuals facing charges related to the January 6 riot. An attorney for Epps, John Blischak, toldPolitico that Epps provided “a full disclosure” to the House January 6 Committee.
July 13, 2022: New York Times features Epps in “A Trump Backer’s Downfall as the Target of a Jan. 6 Conspiracy Theory,” discussing how allegations of federal conspiracy ruined his life.
August 30, 2022: Shortly after the Mar-a-Lago raid, former President Donald Trump posted a debunked claim about Epps’ wife previously working for Dominion Voting Machines on his Truth Social account. Epps’ wife worked for an unaffiliated company, Dominion Enterprises.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
