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Ray Epps, pro-Trump rioter smeared by conspiracy theories, gets probation for role in Capitol riot
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/09/ray-epps-probation-capitol-riot-00134551
There's been an ongoing debate about Ray Epps on this site: Could he really be a Fed if the government is still trying to prosecute him? And the results are in: After heckling demonstrators to invade the Capitol, Epps was charged with a misdemeanor, uniquely leniency for J6 protesters, and will received one year probation. He will not see the inside of a jail cell. His suit against Fox News for defamation will be allowed to proceed, with the promise of a seven or eight-figure payout.
Almost simultaneously, the DOJ has announced that they will begin prosecuting J6 protesters who did not enter the Capitol building but were present in the demonstration outside. These protesters are expected to be charged with something more than misdemeanors.
A quick review of other J6 protesters
Enrique Tarrio was convicted as a terrorist for his role in organizing the Proud Boys even though he was not present at the Capitol or protest on J6
Owen Shroyer was jailed for speaking at the demonstration outside the Capitol, which prosecutors argued violated the terms of his parole (which stemmed from an occasion where he disrupted one of the House's impeachment procedings against Trump)
Joe Biggs, who was present at J6, was given more than a decade in jail after his efforts in taking down a fence around the Capitol were deemed to constitute terrorism, which resulted in his sentence being enhanced.
Steve Baker, an journalist who was present at J6 in his capacity as journalist for the Blaze, has been arrested by federal prosecutors, who sre seeking a 4-year jail sentence.
Ray Epps, who was present at J6, and encouraged people to enter the Capitol Building, will receive no jail time, will still be able to vote and carry a gun, and will possibly win a defamation payout of several million dollars. The government and the media agree that Ray Epps is not a federal agent, and that the accusation that he was caused him significant harm which is far worse than anything he deserves.
I used to think the J6 "fedsurrection" narrative was cope by right-wingers who weren't ready spiritually to defend the J6 protesters. I considered that, if you really believed the election was stolen, then a protest follows logically, except that that would make many conservatives uncomfortable. But, at this point, for me, it's pretty hard to deny that the government was up to something too. I could imagine that the government just had agents embedded to watch and follow along, but Ray Epps clearly did more than that.
I remember arguments on this site that, while it looked like Epps could be a Fed, the fact that he was still being prosecuted implied that maybe it wasn't so. Given his uniquely generous outcome, which almost amounts to an award, I'd like to reopen the discussion.
Does anyone have a link to a sincere presentation of the case for him being a federal agent? Googling it literally only shows references to a “debunked far-right conspiracy theory” but not one genuine presentation of it from a right-leaning source
The main bit of "evidence" is the confrontation between AG Merrick Garland and Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie during the October 2021 house oversight committee hearing. An exchange that was subsequently picked up and broadcasted by the likes of Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, and a bunch of others. The short version being "why have defendants X, Y, and Z, spent 12+months in jail while guy who was most obviously reponible has been allowed to walk?"
Garland's response was to make a vague appeal to limited resources and prosecutorial discretion then change the subject. The general consensus amongst Republicans is that this is a bullshit excuse and that both Garland and Wray are lying through their teeth.
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Here's the revolver news article that more-or-less started this whole controversy:
https://revolver.news/2021/10/meet-ray-epps-the-fed-protected-provocateur-who-appears-to-have-led-the-very-first-1-6-attack-on-the-u-s-capitol/
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No single link but here's some of the circumstantial evidence:
The night before he's calling for people to enter the Capitol. Given the potential charges that brought to those who entered it would be the interest of the government for as many people as possible to enter.
However, despite his enthusiasm and him being on the Capitol grounds he shepherds many protestors into the Capitol building but didn't enter the Capitol building himself. Odd that he didn't participate in an activity he was encouraging.
After the event, he was listed as suspect number 16 by the FBI. Then he was quietly removed from the suspect list. Without charges being filed. Off for someone so directly involved in encouraging people to enter and assisting their entry not to be charged.
After considerable protest over his role remaing unpunished and draconian punishments for others involved be was charged and pled guilty to one charge of disorderly conduct and was just given a probationary sentence.
The situation suggests he glows to me.
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Check https://revolver.news/
Meet Ray Epps
Meet Ray Epps, Part 2
its interesting that part 2 mentions the pipe bombs. the fake pipe bombs were very weird. apparently, they were placed the night before and there is video of someone suspected of placing of the bombs but one of them (or both?) used a 60 minute kitchen timer as the pretend detonation source. now, its gets weirder because apparently someone 'found' one of the bombs at a point in time where the timing made it look like it would explode around the time of certification. this was partly covered by an interview in congress: https://judiciary.house.gov/media/press-releases/republicans-release-new-information-january-6-pipe-bomb-investigation and FBI Director Wray's testimony: https://youtube.com/watch?v=DaL5RM-ZYt0 the cell phone data from the area was also mysteriously corrupted which impeded any investigation.
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