FBI Director Kash Patel has ordered the release of “hundreds” of documents in response to a subpoena from U.S. House Republicans regarding the agency’s activities related to the January 6th, 2021, Capitol riot and its investigation into the discovery of pipe bombs outside Democratic and Republican headquarters in Washington, D.C.
FBI Assistant Director Marshall Yates confirmed the release in a March 7th letter to lawmakers, describing it as a “sign of good faith” in efforts to provide transparency about the Bureau’s activities. According to a copy of the letter obtained by the Epoch Times, Yates stated that the initial production was being provided more than a week before the subpoena deadline and that additional documents would be forthcoming.
“But this will not be the last production we will send to satisfactorily comply with the Committee’s subpoena,” Yates wrote. “To that end, we are diligently working to completely comply with your subpoenas.”
The release follows a request from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who has previously accused former FBI Director Christopher Wray of delaying the pipe bomb investigation. Jordan has also criticized the agency’s use of confidential human sources during the events of January 6th, suggesting that the FBI’s presence in the crowd may have influenced the escalation of unrest.
A report by the U.S. inspector general confirmed that the FBI had placed informants in the crowd on January 6th, though no evidence has surfaced indicating that agents were directly involved in the events.
FBI Dir Kash Patel released evidence of the J6 Bomber ordered my former FBI Directer Wray hidden of kept secret from the Congress & Americans.
Evidence destroyed by the corrupt J6 Committee. https://t.co/EnQwmzegJ1
— 100%_Disabled_Vet-1775 (@DrRHC2) March 13, 2025
Patel’s confirmation as FBI director is expected to bring additional scrutiny to the Bureau’s handling of the investigation. House Republicans have sought answers on multiple fronts, including the FBI’s monitoring of school board meetings following a 2021 memo by then-U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, which suggested that parental rights groups posed a potential threat to public school officials. Another area of interest is an internal FBI memo from the agency’s Richmond office that labeled Catholics who attend traditional Latin Mass as “violent extremists.”
Wray, who was appointed FBI director by President Donald Trump in 2017, announced in December that he would step down, allowing Trump to name his successor. The position traditionally carries a 10-year term, but Wray acknowledged that Trump intended to make a leadership change.
Patel, a former national security advisor to Trump, has been an outspoken advocate for transparency within the FBI. In his first week in office, Patel oversaw the release of the Bureau’s final set of previously undisclosed records related to its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
House Republicans are expected to continue their oversight efforts in the coming weeks, with further document releases anticipated as the FBI works to comply with the subpoena.
