Friday, June 02, 2023

Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Indicted in Federal Court on Felony Charges Related to U.S. Capitol Breach

 WASHINGTON – Today, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia handed down an indictment against Jared Wise, a 49-year-old man from Bend, Oregon, for his involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The indictment includes charges of civil disorder, assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers (both felonies), and four misdemeanors related to his actions during the incident.

The breach of the U.S. Capitol disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress, which was convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election. Wise, along with others, is accused of participating in this unlawful act.

According to court documents, video footage from U.S. Capitol CCTV and Metropolitan Police Department body-worn cameras captured Wise inside and on the grounds of the Capitol on the fateful day. The footage shows Wise entering the Capitol building through the Senate Wing Door at around 2:23 p.m. Upon entering, he exhibited celebratory behavior by clapping his hands and raising his arms in triumph. Wise proceeded through the Crypt and past the Memorial Door before eventually exiting through a window adjacent to the Senate Wing Door at approximately 2:32 p.m. Throughout his time inside the Capitol, he was seen wearing a blue jacket, a dark facemask, and carrying a dark backpack.

Additional footage from the MPD body-worn cameras revealed Wise engaging with police officers. At approximately 4:21 p.m. on the Upper West Terrace, Wise directed derogatory remarks towards the officers, stating, “You guys are disgusting. I’m former—I’m former law enforcement. You’re disgusting. You are the Nazi. You are the Gestapo. You can’t see it... Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame on you!” As violence erupted and officers were being attacked, Wise turned towards the chaos and shouted, “Yeah, fuck them! Yeah, kill 'em!” He continued to incite violence by yelling, “Kill ‘em! Kill ‘em! Kill ‘em!” in the direction of the rioters assaulting the police line.

Prior to these events, Wise had served as a Special Agent and Supervisory Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2004 to 2017.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is leading the prosecution in this case, with support from the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office, with assistance from the Portland and Washington Field Offices, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Capitol Police.

Since January 6, 2021, over 1,000 individuals have been arrested across nearly all 50 states for their involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol. Among those arrested, more than 320 individuals have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation into this unprecedented event is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit tips at tips.fbi.gov.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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