Epps has been charged with a single misdemeanor count of disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, according to court papers filed on Sept. 18. The charge states: Ray Epps, a former Marine who became the focus of speculation about government involvement in the U.S. Capitol Riot, has been charged by federal prosecutors.
[Epps] did knowingly, and with intent to impede and disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business and official functions, engage in disorderly and disruptive conduct in and within such proximity to, a restricted building and grounds—that is, any posted, cordoned-off, and otherwise restricted area within the United States Capitol and its grounds, where the Vice President was and would be temporarily visiting—when and so that such conduct did in fact impede and disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business and official functions, and attempted and conspired to do so. Epps has been seen on multiple videos taken during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, when protestors converged on the U.S. Capitol demonstrating against what many believed to be a stolen election. Multiple videos have shown Epps the night before and the day of the riot encouraging protestors to physically enter the Capitol grounds. In one video recorded the night of Jan. 5, Epps tells a group of protestors on the street, “Tomorrow, we need to go into the Capitol! Into the Capitol,” which immediately drew chants of “Fed! Fed! Fed!” by the crowd, which suspected him of being a federal officer who was baiting them into undertaking illegal actions.Loading...
Though at least 1,000 Jan. 6 protestors have been arrested, with some receiving lengthy prison sentences, within the past two years, Epps had not been indicted despite his apparent prominent role — a development that has fueled speculation that Epps may have been a federal agent or acting as an informant.Loading...
The single misdemeanor count has further added speculation that Epps has some connection to the government, considering the bevy of other charges against other people, including Proud Boys member Enrique Tarrio, who received a 22-year prison sentence even though he wasn't in Washington, D.C. on Jan 6th.
Epps faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison. However, as NBC News reported, Epps was charged by information, which suggests a plea deal was worked out ahead of time, and the judge has scheduled a plea agreement hearing for Sept. 20, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Epps has denied working with or acting at the direction of any law enforcement agency. Democrats have long insisted that assertions Epps was a federal agent or informant were nothing more than right-wing conspiracy theories.Loading...
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