Epps has claimed in interviews that he by no means entered the Capitol, and no proof has emerged to counsel he did. That places Epps amongst a small group of these charged on Jan. 6 to face legal fees with out allegations that they entered the Capitol or joined within the violence.
The cost in opposition to Epps carries a most penalty of 1 yr in jail.
Epps was included in pictures launched by the FBI shortly after the Capitol riot of people they have been in search of details about as a part of the sprawling investigation.
Nevertheless, pictures of Epps have been rapidly faraway from the FBI’s web site and he has not confronted any fees within the 32 months because the altercation, main the opposite defendants on January 6, conservative media and even Trump to publicly speculate that Epps was an FBI plant. With the intention of frightening a riot and a part of a so-called false flag operation.
For his half, Epps vehemently denied that he acted that day on behalf of the FBI, and testified earlier than the January 6 fee that he had no connection to the FBI or federal businesses. Different movies present him standing subsequent to Proud Boys chief Zachary Rehl whereas Rehl seems to spray chemical spray on officers. A jury convicted Riehl earlier this yr of seditious conspiracy and was sentenced to fifteen years in jail.
In July 2023, Epps filed a defamation go well with in opposition to Fox Information, complaining that he had been subjected to false defamation in reference to the episode, regardless that he was a Trump supporter and a loyal viewer of the community. He stated within the lawsuit that he would probably face a legal cost, attributing it partly to strain ensuing from the eye generated by the conspiracy theories aired by Fox.
Fox denied legal responsibility and moved to dismiss the lawsuit pending in federal court docket in Delaware.
Some Republican lawmakers, together with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, have publicly speculated about Epps’ FBI ties and raised conspiracy theories in regards to the riot.
Trump himself has additionally fueled theories, Using his Truth Social account to spread baseless claims About Epps’ spouse.
Epps stated he acquired harassing messages and loss of life threats on account of this publicity.
Prosecutors confronted so many questions and calls for for details about Epps from different defendants on Jan. 6 that final yr they ready a disclosure about him to share with alleged rioters whose legal professionals had been urgent for such information.
Greater than 1,100 individuals have been charged in reference to the Capitol riot, with prosecutors persevering with to file a number of instances every week.
Epps’ attorneys didn’t instantly reply to messages in search of touch upon the brand new cost Tuesday.
