The Facts
On Monday, Ray Epps, a former member of the Oath Keepers, was charged with one misdemeanor count for disorderly or disruptive conduct on restricted grounds in connection with the Jan. 6 riots at the US Capitol in 2021.
Epps was charged by information, which may suggest he intends to enter a plea deal, with a virtual plea agreement hearing set for Wednesday.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
While Epps was a participant in the Jan. 6 attack, he went of his own volition, not as a liberal false flag agent. The conspiracy theories claiming that he was a federal agent sent to incite a riot and convince peaceful protestors to commit violence are unfounded and have been disproven. While this court case may show that Epps is guilty of participating in the events of Jan. 6, he's no more guilty than anyone else there that day.
Republican narrative
Regardless of whether the accusations against Epps hold water, this slap-on-the-wrist charge and likely plea deal raise questions. In the face of Proud Boys members — some of whom weren't even in Washington, DC, on Jan. 6 — serving decades-long prison sentences, Epps' misdemeanor charge is, at best, offensive and, at worst, suspect. Either way, there must be more transparency.
