Intelligence Gathering and Informant Deployment
The 's inspector general criticized the FBI for not adequately gathering intelligence before the , highlighting a failure to canvass informants across all field offices, which could have aided preparations.
Despite 26 FBI informants being present in Washington for the protests, none were authorized to participate in the riot, debunking claims of FBI instigation. Four informants entered the Capitol, but this was not sanctioned by the FBI.
Response and Public Perception
The FBI agreed with the inspector general's recommendations for process improvements, emphasizing the report's findings that none of its undercover employees were involved in the riots.
Social media misinterpretations led to false claims that the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot, despite the report clarifying the bureau's informants' legal limitations and lack of authorization to engage in the riot.