- Former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi says the FBI is facing a “crisis of credibility.”
- Figliuzzi stated that the agency wasn’t being transparent about its knowledge about the Capitol riot.
- He asked for an open disclosure by the FBI if it had been subject to “political suppression” of intelligence.
Frank FigliuzziFormer FBI assistant director says agency faces a “crisis in credibility” due to conflicting information regarding what senior agents knew about the Capitol riot.
Figliuzzi claimed Monday’s appearance on MSNBC’s “Deadline” that top FBI officials aren’t grasping the “gravity” of the situation. He said that information is slowly being released about the knowledge of FBI officials leading up to the riot.
Figliuzzi stated, “And it was much more than they thought they knew at that time preceding January 6,.”
“It is time for complete transparency. Figliuzzi said, “It’s time for complete transparency.
Figliuzzi mentioned Steven D’Antuono as the head of FBI’s Washington Field Office. According to reporters, this statement was made days after the Capitol riot.The FBI did not receive any intelligence that indicated that the Trump Ellipse rally was turning violent.
Figliuzzi also mentioned FBI Director Christopher Wray. Testimony to Congress, June 2021Wray claimed that no intelligence had been received by his agency prior to January 6th that indicated that “hundreds of people” were planning to enter the Capitol complex.
Rep. Adam Schiff was a member the committee investigating January 6 events and he contradicted Wray’s testimony on Thursday. Schiff During the hearing, it was revealed that evidence had been presented that the FBI, Capitol police and other agencies had “gathered” intelligence suggesting violence at the Capitol.
“So which one is it?” Or you were lacking in specificity. Or maybe you were able to think of something and it didn’t work out. Figliuzzi said.
Figliuzzi stated that he believes it is going up the chain, to include political suppression of anyone who might want to take further steps to secure the Capitol. “Those are the questions we need to answer and they must be answered immediately. Do not wait for the committee’s 1,000-page report to be released in months.
In an opinion piece published on MSNBCFigliuzzi demanded that the Biden Administration provide answers to questions about whether US law enforcement officers failed to respond to the January 6th incident or if the officials were deliberately unable to prevent the riot.
Figliuzzi wrote that without substantive answers from the agency leaders, many people will conclude that there was willful blindness to the warning signs staring them in their faces.
Figliuzzi worked for the FBI for 25+ years, in Atlanta and Washington DC. He was Assistant director of FBI’s Counterintelligence Division in 2011,. He is now a MSNBC commentator and news analyst.
Insider asked for comment from representatives at the FBI, but they didn’t immediately respond.
