Politician · event

Kash Patel on January 6th

Refutes insurrection narrative (strong)

TL;DR

Kash Patel views January 6th not as an insurrection, suggesting the FBI may have planned the event.

Key Points

  • He posted on social media that January 6th was "never an insurrection" and that "Cowards in uniform exposed".

  • He co-produced and sold musical recordings of a song performed by January 6th rioters in jail, describing them as "political prisoners".

  • He has suggested that the FBI may have been planning for January 6th for a year, a claim he has questioned publicly.

Summary

Kash Patel has consistently characterized the events of January 6th as a riot, not an insurrection, and has implied that the FBI's conduct surrounding the day was improper and possibly involved planning. He has been critical of the notion that the event was an 'insurrection' and has made statements on social media such as, "January 6th, never an insurrection. Cowards in uniform exposed," while clarifying that the 'cowards in uniform' comment referred to senior Pentagon leadership failing to mobilize the National Guard, not the police officers. Patel has also promoted a conspiracy theory that the FBI was planning the attack for a year, a claim which he has questioned publicly. Furthermore, he co-produced and sold recordings featuring the "J6 choir," composed of incarcerated January 6th defendants, whom he referred to as "political prisoners".

Key Quotes

"Agents were sent into a crowd control mission after the riot was declared by Metro Police – something that goes against FBI standards"

"January 6th, never an insurrection. Cowards in uniform exposed"

Frequently Asked Questions

Kash Patel maintains that January 6th was not an insurrection but rather a riot. He has focused significant attention on alleging misconduct by the FBI regarding the event, including suggesting the agency may have been planning it for a year. Patel also promoted a song featuring incarcerated defendants from the event, whom he called "political prisoners".

Kash Patel has been consistent in his position that January 6th was not an insurrection, referring to it as a "haphazard riot" in his published work. His public statements and testimony have repeatedly framed the event in a manner that minimizes the violent, insurrectionary aspect of the day.

Patel stated that FBI agents were present on January 6th for "crowd control" after the riot was declared, which he noted goes against FBI standards. He asserted that the former FBI Director lied to Congress about the extent of FBI involvement and that corrupt leadership was responsible.

Sources8

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.