The Justice Department has arrested a former FBI special agent over his alleged role in Jan. 6.
Prosecutors allege former FBI supervisory agent Jared Wise, who worked for the FBI from 2004 until 2017, illegally entered the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. They also allege he called police officers Nazis and encouraged rioters to kill officers.
"When violence against law enforcement began in front of WISE, including officers being knocked to the ground directly in front of him, WISE turned in the direction of the violence and shouted, 'Yeah, f**k them! Yeah, kill 'em!'" the criminal complaint against Wise said. "A few seconds later, as assaults continued, he shouted in the direction of the rioters attacking the police line, 'Kill 'em! Kill 'em ! Kill 'em!'"
The FBI began an investigation into Wise's involvement after receiving a tip last year that he had entered the Capitol on Jan. 6. Investigators then confirmed he was at the Capitol because his phone pinged cell towers that service the Capitol, the government explained in its affidavit.
Investigators ultimately charged Wise with four misdemeanors: illegally entering a restricted building, disrupting government business, making threats on the Capitol grounds, and protesting in the Capitol.
Wise appeared in court on Monday for his first appearance. He was released on bond.
The New York Times has more details about his work as a federal agent:
From 2004 to 2017, Mr. Wise worked on public corruption and counterterrorism matters at the F.B.I. field offices in Washington, D.C., and New York. He was briefly detailed to Libya to help agents investigate the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012, that killed four Americans. Mr. Wise left the bureau after his supervisors in New York became unhappy with his work, and his career had stalled, a former senior F.B.I. official said.
Wise is only the second current or former federal agent to be criminally charged for allegedly participating in Jan. 6.
Prosecutors have also charged Mark Ibrahim for allegedly participating in Jan. 6. At the time the riots, Ibrahim was an off-duty agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency. Ibrahim has left the agency and pleaded not guilty. He is awaiting trial.
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