Ray Epps, Accused in Capitol Riot Conspiracy Theories, Faces Charges for Involvement in January 6 Incident

Ray Epps, a former Trump supporter who was accused by online conspiracy theorists of being a federal agent during the January 6 Capitol riot, has now been charged with disorderly conduct. Epps, a former US Marine from Arizona, was present outside the Capitol but claims he did not enter the building. He was caught on multiple videos during the unrest, including one where he was seen urging people to go inside the Capitol and being accused by the crowd of being a law enforcement official. Another video showed Epps whispering into the ear of a man who then charged at police lines. After the riot, unfounded conspiracy theories suggesting Epps was working for the FBI circulated online, which were then referenced by mainstream media outlets like Fox News. Epps, a former member of the Oath Keepers militia, has denied these allegations and stated that he was attempting to calm down the man who charged at the police. He attributed his actions to his belief in widespread election fraud and support for Trump. In July, Epps filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News, claiming that the network's false reporting led to threats and harassment, forcing him to close his business and relocate to Utah. Epps and his attorney have not yet commented on the recent charges, and Fox News has not responded to requests for comment.