Ex-FBI Agent in Capitol Riot Joins DOJ Team \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Jared Wise, a former FBI agent once charged in the Capitol riot, now advises the Justice Department’s “weaponization working group,” which investigates anti-conservative bias. Wise’s case was dismissed after Trump pardoned all Jan. 6 defendants. His DOJ role under Trump-aligned leadership has sparked controversy and scrutiny.
Quick Looks
- Jared Wise, ex-FBI agent, now serves as counselor to DOJ pardon attorney Ed Martin Jr.
- Wise was charged for Capitol riot involvement, cheering and yelling “Kill ’em!” at police.
- Case dismissed after Trump’s mass Jan. 6 pardons upon returning to office.
- Martin, tied to ‘Stop the Steal’, was replaced as D.C. prosecutor after GOP pushback.
- Wise’s appointment adds controversy to DOJ’s “weaponization working group.”
- Group reviewing claims of DOJ bias against conservatives under Biden administration.
Deep Look
The appointment of Jared Lane Wise, a former FBI supervisory agent who was once charged for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, to a Justice Department advisory role has intensified concerns about the Trump administration’s reshaping of the DOJ along ideological lines. Wise now serves as counselor to Ed Martin Jr., the department’s pardon attorney and the director of the “weaponization working group,” a body tasked with investigating claims of anti-conservative bias within the DOJ under the Biden administration.
Wise’s involvement in the Jan. 6 riot is well documented. According to FBI affidavits, Wise traveled to Washington, D.C., and joined the mob that breached the Capitol. Body camera and surveillance footage showed him cheering on rioters, yelling “Kill ’em!” as police officers were attacked, and entering the Capitol through the Senate wing. He exited about nine minutes later but not before shouting at officers: “I’m former law enforcement. You’re disgusting. You are the Nazi. You are the Gestapo.”
Wise served with the FBI from 2004 to 2017 in various roles, including as a supervisory special agent. His arrest in May 2023 in Oregon drew national attention because of his law enforcement background and the aggressive rhetoric he used during the riot. However, his case never reached a conclusion—dismissed after Trump issued mass pardons and commutations for all individuals charged in relation to the Capitol attack upon returning to the White House in January 2025.
Now, Wise is part of a powerful unit inside the Justice Department that was created at the urging of Attorney General Pam Bondi. The “weaponization working group” is investigating former special counsel Jack Smith’s Trump prosecutions, alleged surveillance of conservative activists, and the Biden-era DOJ’s approach to politically sensitive cases.
Wise’s direct supervisor, Ed Martin Jr., is no stranger to controversy. A former Trump campaign lawyer and staunch ally, Martin was originally tapped by Trump to become interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. However, Trump was forced to withdraw the nomination just two days later after a top Republican senator said he couldn’t support Martin due to his history defending Jan. 6 rioters and his involvement in the “Stop the Steal” movement.
Martin has a long resume in pro-Trump political circles. He was a speaker at a Jan. 5, 2021 rally in D.C. and has represented three defendants charged in the Capitol riot. He also sat on the board of the Patriot Freedom Project, a nonprofit that has raised millions to support Jan. 6 defendants, further intertwining him with efforts to reframe the riot as political persecution.
After being passed over for the prosecutor role, Martin moved into his current DOJ position, where he now oversees internal investigations and reviews of previous administration conduct. Wise’s hiring aligns with the working group’s broader mission to highlight and reverse what Trump allies claim were politically motivated actions against conservatives.
The reaction to Wise’s appointment has been swift and polarized. Civil rights groups, Democratic lawmakers, and former DOJ officials argue that installing someone previously charged in the Capitol riot into a federal justice oversight role is an alarming normalization of extremism. Critics say it undermines public trust in the Justice Department and signals a troubling shift in how justice is interpreted under the Trump administration.
The DOJ has refused to publicly comment on Wise’s hiring, and the details of his responsibilities remain opaque. The New York Times first reported the story, which was later confirmed by other outlets citing anonymous sources familiar with internal DOJ movements.
The working group’s current focus reportedly includes the dropped prosecutions of Trump under special counsel Jack Smith, scrutiny of investigations into conservative school board protestors, and an audit of civil rights division activities during Biden’s term. With Wise now advising one of its top officials, questions persist over whether the group’s true intent is reform—or retribution.
Wise’s appointment also coincides with the DOJ’s abandonment of its leadership role in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and broader efforts to reshape federal institutions along Trump-aligned ideological lines. The latest development is part of a growing list of staffing choices that prioritize loyalty and shared grievance over traditional qualifications or bipartisan legitimacy.
As the weaponization group ramps up its work, observers warn that its internal composition could influence the outcome of high-stakes investigations and decisions, especially those involving past political prosecutions. For many, Jared Wise’s appointment serves as a symbol of how the January 6 legacy is being rewritten from inside the government itself.
Ex-FBI Agent in
You must Register or Login to post a comment.