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... Newly released video footage of the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol building dealt a blow to a conspiracy theory alleging the involvement of federal agents. ...
Conspiracy theorists pointed to one clip they say proved federal agents were present at the riot. They have argued a video shows one rioter, Kevin Lyons, wearing one of Trump's signature "Make America Great Again" hats, while flashing an official government identification badge at a camera.
Skeptics, however, pointed out that Lyons was actually holding a vape -- not a government ID -- pouring cold water on the theory. Several high-profile conservatives pushed the theory, but were forced to backtrack amid criticism.
Sen. Mike Lee of Utah was among the Republicans who backed the theory, retweeting a post on X, formerly Twitter, Saturday night questioning whether Lyons was an "undercover federal agent."
"I can't wait to ask FBI Director Christopher Wray about this at our next oversight hearing. I predict that, as always, his answers will be 97% information-free," Lee wrote in a post on X. ...
Lee's post remained public Monday morning, and he has not addressed criticism that Lyons was actually holding a vape, despite a community note from X fact-checking him on the matter.
"The person is not flashing a badge. He is not a government employee or source. It is Kevin Lyons, who was recently sentenced to 4 years in jail for his actions on January 6th. He called police officers Nazis,'" the community note reads.
Newsweek has reached out to Lee's office for comment via email.
He also faced criticism from former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and others over the post.
"You're a lawyer, Mike. You're capable of understanding the scores of January 6 verdicts and rulings in our federal courts," she wrote. "You didn't object to electors on January 6 because you knew what Trump was doing was unconstitutional and you know what you're doing now is wrong." ...
