Another Jan. 6 conspiracy theory suffers a reality-inflicted blow

Measured in Fox News airtime, there is perhaps no Jan. 6 conspiracy theory more popular than the idea that federal agents helped spur the violence that overwhelmed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. And within that particular theory, no individual has received more attention than Ray Epps, an Arizona man who has been identified as the person encouraging a pro-Trump crowd on Jan. 5 to enter the Capitol the following day and who appeared near the scene of the first barrier breach.

To Tucker Carlson and his followers — including members of the House and Senate — that Epps was never arrested is a strong indicator that he was a federal agent who was at the scene specifically to gin up violence. Here’s how Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) pressed the case in a hearing Tuesday afternoon, asking questions of an FBI representative.

“Who is Ray Epps?” Cruz asked.