Jan. 6 rioter Tucker Carlson claimed was a fed is now facing misdemeanor charge

After Ray Epps — one of the January 6, 2021 rioters — was interviewed by the January 6 Select Committee in 2022, Tucker Carlson (then a host at Fox News) and other MAGA conspiracy theorists claimed that he was really an undercover federal agent. And Epps sued Carlson and Fox News for defamation.

But on Tuesday, September 19, Epps was charged with a misdemeanor count of disruptive behavior on federal grounds.

NBC News' Ryan J. Reilly reports, "Not long after he was charged, a virtual plea agreement hearing was set for Wednesday, September 20 before Chief Judge James Boasberg."

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Reilly notes that "most of the thousands who unlawfully gathered on the restricted grounds of the U.S. Capitol have not been charged unless they engaged in some sort of aggravating conduct, like attacking police or destroying property."

A plea deal for Epps, Reilly reports, appears likely.

According to Reilly, "Video shows that Epps attempted to deescalate tensions between the police and rioters, though he's also shown with his hands on a giant Trump sign the rioters jammed into the police line. A federal judge acquitted another January 6 participant who had his hand on that same sign, saying that his intent was unclear."

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Read NBC News' full report at this link.