A senior congressional source told Blaze Media that the FBI had plainclothes personnel in the crowds during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, initially reporting 275 agents but later correcting the number to 274. This claim, which has not been verified, contrasts sharply with a December 2024 Department of Justice Inspector General report that documented only 26 FBI informants present that day.
The Stark Numerical Discrepancy
The 274 figure represents more than a tenfold difference from official findings. The DOJ Office of Inspector General concluded after an extensive investigation that there was “no evidence of undercover employees” among the protest crowds or inside the Capitol building. The official report confirmed that 26 FBI confidential human sources—informants—were present, with only four entering the Capitol itself and just three specifically tasked by the FBI to attend the events.
The DOJ OIG report offers a comprehensive analysis of FBI personnel during January 6. It found no undercover FBI agents present, identified 26 confidential human sources (none authorized to commit crimes or incite violence), and concluded no evidence of FBI personnel instigating the events.
Blaze Media initially reported 275 agents on September 25, 2025, but corrected the article after publication to state 274 plainclothes agents. The claim comes from what the outlet describes as a “senior congressional source,” though the identity has not been disclosed. Critically, no official FBI statement, congressional documentation, or acknowledgment of this figure has been independently verified by major news organizations. The source allegedly claims the FBI “acknowledged” this number to Congress, but no supporting documentation has been provided or released by any congressional committee.
Congressional Response and Ongoing Questions
The unverified claim uses “plainclothes agents” rather than “undercover employees,” which was the specific focus of the DOJ OIG investigation. Plainclothes officers wear civilian clothing while retaining their law enforcement identity and equipment. In contrast, undercover agents completely conceal their law enforcement role. The FBI regularly uses counter-surveillance personnel at large-scale, high-risk events for security and intelligence gathering.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), chair of the House January 6 Select Subcommittee, has responded by stating his intention to investigate further. “With that many paid informants being in the crowd, we want to know how many were in the crowd, how many were in the building, but I also want to know, were they paid to inform or instigate?” Loudermilk said, according to Just the News, September 22, 2025. His statement references the unverified 274 figure rather than the officially documented 26 informants.
The claim of 274 informants raises significant concerns about government transparency and suggests that important information may have been withheld during the DOJ investigation. The FBI has not confirmed or denied these assertions despite media attention. Congressional oversight committees continue to seek documentation to clarify the FBI’s presence on January 6. Until verification is provided, the DOJ Inspector General’s findings—26 informants and zero undercover agents—remain the official account.