Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) took the bizarre theory that the FBI orchestrated the Jan. 6 Capitol riot a step further on Wednesday, suggesting that the agency sent so-called “ghost buses” filled with FBI informants “dressed as Trump supporters” to the Capitol to incite the mob.
Higgins questioned FBI director Christopher Wray at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing about the far-right conspiracy theory that the FBI was involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
“If you are asking whether the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6 was part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources and/or agents, the answer is emphatically no,” Wray told Higgins at the hearing.
“Are you familiar with – do you know what a ghost vehicle is? You’re the director of the FBI, you certainly should. Do you know what a ghost bus is?” Higgins asked.
“I’m not sure I’ve used that term before,” Wray responded.
Higgins explained that a ‘ghost bus’ is pretty common in law enforcement and is a “vehicle that’s used for secret purposes, it’s painted over.”
The congressman then pointed to a photo of a group of buses he said arrived at “Union Station on January 6th at 05:00.”
“I’m showing you these two buses are painted completely white,” he continued. “These buses are nefarious in nature and were filled with FBI informants dressed as Trump supporters. They were deployed on our Capitol on January 6th. Your day is coming, Mr. Wray.”
The theory that federal agents orchestrated the attack on the Capitol began days after the riot when a video showing a rioter, identified as Ray Epps, began circulated on far-right message boards.
In the video, taken the day before the riot, Epps is seen urging Trump supporters around him to “peacefully” enter the Capitol on Jan. 6. Right wing media outlets and some GOP lawmaker falsely claim Epps was an undercover FBI agent for months before it was debunked.
According to the House committee that investigated the riot, Epps testified that he is not a member of law enforcement. Records show Epps is a business owner from Arizona with past ties to the far-right militia group the Oath Keepers.
