Posted on 01/14/2022 12:22:18 PM PST by gattaca
The attorney for Capitol Hill protest participant Ray Epps, former FBI agent John Blischak, told The Epoch Times on Jan. 12 that his client has been interviewed by federal law enforcers and “unequivocally, he is not an FBI informant.”
Speculation about Epps has gradually built for months, coming to a head when top federal law enforcement officials refused to answer questions about his alleged connections to law enforcement during a Jan. 11 Senate hearing on domestic terrorism. The Democratic-led House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol released a statement following the hearing, claiming to have interviewed Epps and that he’s not a “fed”—but this prompted further questions and criticism.
While The Epoch Times was initially unable to reach Epps for comment, he responded to a text message later on the night of Jan. 11.
“Please refer any questions to our attorney John Blischak,” Epps wrote. “He will be happy to answer your questions, as I’ve been advised not to talk to anyone at this time.”
When reached by phone the next morning, Blischak vigorously denied that Epps is a federal informant.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, speaks during a hearing to examine US–Russia policy at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Dec. 7, 2021. (ALEX BRANDON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) “He was interviewed by the FBI in Arizona,” he said. “I was present during that interview, and unequivocally, he is not an FBI informant.”
Asked whether Epps is an asset for any government agency—law enforcement, intelligence, or otherwise—Blischak said, “Not to my knowledge.”
Then why didn’t Department of Justice officials deny any connections to Epps?
“Knowing the FBI as I do, they’re not going to comment one way or another,” Blischak said.
Epoch Times Photo Ray Epps is shown at lower left on an early FBI ‘wanted’ poster, but his photo has since been scrubbed from the FBI website. (FBI.gov/Wayback Machine) Blischak also denied any deals or agreements between Epps and the FBI. He said he’s representing Epps “in the event that he becomes a potential defendant in any action brought as to what happened on Jan. 6, 2021.”
“We’ve been working with the House Committee,” Blischak. “That’s what we’ve been doing.”
The Epoch Times asked whether Epps was under oath during his interview with the Jan. 6 Committee or with the FBI. Blischak didn’t directly answer the question, instead explaining that when FBI agents interview individuals, they typically aren’t under oath.
When asked for a copy of the transcript between Epps and the committee, Blischak said copies will be provided to attorneys of Jan. 6 defendants.
Epoch Times Photo Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), speaks as members share the recollections on the first anniversary of the assault on the US Capitol in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2022. (MANDEL NGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) “I can, but I don’t have it. I probably can down the road, but I haven’t made any effort,” he said when The Epoch Times requested a copy. “I first want to get with my client.”
When asked to characterize Epps’s actions on Jan. 5 and 6, Blischak said, “Merely present.”
Video footage shows Epps urging protestors to enter the Capitol on multiple occasions, as well as talking to someone at the initial breach site right before that person began rushing the barricades—raising questions among some about whether Epps told the person to attack.
As to why his client hasn’t been charged, Blischak said, “Because he’s not guilty! He has a good attorney.”
Blischak is a former FBI agent who worked in Cleveland and then Arizona from 1974–85.
His bio says: “In 1975, John W. Blischak embarked on a rewarding nine-year career as an FBI agent with the U.S. Department of Justice, commencing in Cleveland and thereafter transferring to Phoenix. Wanting to seek independence and a challenge, Mr. Blischak, voluntarily left the FBI and commenced a three-year stint as a prosecutor in the Maricopa County [Arizona] Attorney’s Office.”
Epoch Times Photo Law enforcement officers walk out of the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building in Washington on Jan. 28, 2019. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Since then, Blischak has been handling a variety of criminal matters, from DUI cases to white-collar crime, according to his site.
Blischak downplayed the significance of his past with the FBI.
“There’s no correlation. It’s public record. I can’t lie that I was an FBI agent from ’75-’84, but I do not know that when he retained me, that he knew that,” he said. “In other words, he didn’t retain me because I’m a former FBI agent.”
Richard Booth, an independent researcher of the Oklahoma City bombing, told The Epoch Times that it’s common for FBI agents to transition into private practice for financial reasons. He cited former FBI Deputy Director Weldon Kennedy, who wrote in his memoirs about how many agents struggled to make ends meet when transferred to expensive places such as New York City.
“Many in FBI are lawyers and they’re notoriously underpaid, so not surprised to see one practicing law,” Booth said. “On the other hand, it sure looks suspicious.”
Meanwhile, Blischak said he hasn’t issued a demand for a retraction or had any other communications with Revolver News, the site that published the original deep dives into Epps.
“We’ve had discussions. … I personally haven’t been involved in that aspect,” he said.
“They [Revolver] are throwing him against the wall. I know that, and right now I have a meeting [with Epps today]. He’s going to be in my office in about four hours, and I’ll know our future plans after that meeting.”
Not an FBI agent or informant? How about BATF? How about Homeland Security? How about any one of the various federal, district or state agencies?
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how bout: Clowns In America?
how bout: Media Matters?
how bout: Lincoln Project?
how bout: fusion GPS?
how bout: Perkins Coie?
how bout: Soroz talent agency?
Uh-huh. Riiiiight. /s
During the “armed insurrection” the only person shot was a woman protester? Had she been a woman of color and not been pro-Trump, there would have been riots (with people trying to burn down government buildings) and attacks on police all across the country. I now it would be said that is different.
Somebody ought to “follow the money”
Big hypothetical “what if”.. but if Epps derives his income from renting out his property for functions.
What are the odds the only people ever married there were feds? Or, all if the 25-50k rental fees were charged. But no one ever showed up for the event?
Great way to launder money “renting” out a venue for a “wedding”, “mitzvah”, etc. from midnight to 2am in the middle of January for 20k…
Green Party. ‘Nuff said.
FYI: Arizona Summit School of Law was a for-profit law school that went out of business in 2018, when the ABA revoked accreditation because the School apparently paid under-prepared students not to take (and fail) the bar exam, which would drive down an aready low bar passage rate. Statistically, this was one of the highest priced, and one of the worst performing law schools in the country. I can’t imagine anyone going there unless they could not get into a better school.
So were the USCP, and not once have we seen this video that plainly demonstrates the USCP invited the rally tourists onto the Capitol grounds -- thus negating any charges of Federal trespass -- anywhere other than Twitter (where the original video can still be obtained, amazingly).
Not one single defense attorney has cited this video to defend any rally tourists who entered from this Capitol entrance. None. Zero.
it’s a keeper
Ditto.
What about past tense? Was he ever an FBI informant? Any other agencies? ATF? CIA? NSA? DEA? USPS? CPA? DDS? That attorney’s denial is not very broad.
How did he do that exactly?
That exchange begged for a follow-up question such as “Was Epps under oath when he talked to Congressional investigators?
He’s not an “informant”? O.K. Since you’re playing the semantics card, what exactly IS he? And cut the BS. He was videoed urging people to enter the capitol on Jan. 6th and the day before.
I suspect they will say, THAT video doesn’t show the violence, but it happened elsewhere.....
Did you hear back from him ?
Good question. He and his crew were organized and hell bent on getting people in the Capitol.
I don’t believe him, His attorney can say anything they want to the media.
Put him under oath and investigate him.
Thanks for that note. I see what you mean:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Summit_Law_School
“The school created controversy in 2015, when the dean reportedly paid underprepared students not to take the bar exam.[8][9] The school was controversial for its poor bar pass rates and unemployability of its students, most notably in 2016, 94.8% of its students failed to pass the bar exam.[10]”
Not exactly a highlight to put on one’s resume! Suggests Drew was a bit of a slacker. But his father keeps him at the family law firm—I guess that’s one way to get a job.
There's video of him inciting other people to break into the capitol, "We have to go INTO the capitol tomorrow/today. We can't just stay outside, we have to go INTO the capitol tomorrow/today", knowing full well that it was closed.
One group of patriots sees through him and starts pointing at him and yelling, "Fed, fed, fed, fed ..."
the other question is whether he is working for some other gov’t agency, not the fib. look out when they get precise. you know how they twist everything.
I don’t see how that is “violence.” I don’t care what the dem jan.6 committee thinks. Illegal, yes. Epps should get the same treatment as others who broke laws.
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