WASHINGTON (AP) — Ray Epps, a onetime Donald Trump supporter who was the target of a right-wing conspiracy theory about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack that forced him into hiding, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot.
After the riot, he became the focus of a conspiracy theory — echoed by right-wing news outlets — that he was a secret government agent who incited the Capitol attack.
Epps said he heard from a relative shortly after he returned home from Washington that his picture was on an FBI website.
Soon after, Epps contacted the FBI to provide his information and his attorney told investigators he wanted to cooperate with the investigation.
Roughly 670 people have pleaded guilty, and of those 480 pleaded to misdemeanor charges, according to an Associated Press analysis of court records.
Persons:
— Ray Epps, Donald Trump, Epps, Fox News —, Democrat Joe Biden, ”, “, ” Epps, Tucker Carlson's, ” “, Carlson, Christopher Wray, I’ve, Stewart Rhodes, Rhodes, Alanna Durkin Richer, Lindsay Whitehurst
Organizations:
WASHINGTON, U.S, Capitol, Marine, Fox News Channel, Fox News, Republican, Democrat, FBI, CBS, ” Fox News, Associated Press, U.S . Marine Corps, United States Marine Corps, U.S . House Committee, Trump, Biden, Associated
Locations:
Arizona, Washington, Mesa , Arizona, Rocky