Former FBI agent pardoned by Trump for Jan. 6 charges now serving in Justice Department: Sources

Former FBI agent Jared Wise, who was accused of encouraging rioters to attack police during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, has now been appointed to the Justice Department’s “Weaponization Working Group,” sources familiar with the appointment have confirmed.

Wise, who was on trial for his involvement in the Capitol attack, was among the more than 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the riot. However, he was pardoned by then-President Donald Trump as part of a series of sweeping pardons and commutations.

According to sources, Wise is now working as an investigator and counselor to Ed Martin, the former interim D.C. U.S. Attorney. Martin’s permanent nomination to the post was rejected by Republican senators due to concerns over his past advocacy for the Jan. 6 rioters and other controversial actions during Trump’s presidency.

The New York Times first reported Wise’s appointment at the DOJ. He was charged in May 2023 and later indicted, with prosecutors citing videos showing him yelling “Kill ’em!” as rioters attacked police outside the Capitol. Wise also allegedly entered the building for approximately nine minutes and continued to confront law enforcement officers.

In body camera footage, Wise can be heard berating the police officers, calling them “disgusting” and comparing them to Nazis and Gestapo. He shouted, “Shame on you! Shame on you!” in the video captured by law enforcement.

When asked for comment, a Justice Department spokesperson declined to provide a statement regarding Wise’s appointment. Likewise, Martin did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

The appointment of a former FBI agent involved in the Capitol riot to a key role within the Justice Department has raised eyebrows and sparked controversy. It remains to be seen how Wise’s new position will impact the department’s work and whether his past actions will have any bearing on his current responsibilities.