According to the text of the lawsuit between Epps and Fox News as reported by The Post Millennial, in May of 2023 the DOJ "notified Epps that it would seek to charge him criminally for events on January 6, 2021—two-and-a-half years later.."
The legal complaint blamed Fox News and Carlson for the criminal charges citing "political pressures" allegedly caused by Fox coverage.
The complaint continued "... it is difficult to believe that the Department of Justice would have pursued this matter if Fox had not focused its lies on Epps, ultimately the criminal charges conclusively demonstrate the falsehood of the story that Mr. Carlson and Fox told about Epps.""The relentless attacks by Fox and Mr. Carlson and the resulting political pressure likely resulted in the criminal charges."
https://twitter.com/KCPayTreeIt/status/1678433097904275459
Epps' complaint arduously attempts to paint him in the most favorable light possible, admonishing 45th President Donald J. Trump, Fox News, then-host Tucker Carlson, and pro-Trump live streamer Anthime "Baked Alaska" Gionet in turn. Gionet, who filmed the now infamous video of Epps telling him "We need to go into the Capitol!" was sentenced to 60 days in prison in January according to Politico.
https://twitter.com/WeThePeople021/status/1679305809660977152
The complaint particularly fixates upon Carlson, claiming, "Mr. Carlson’s spreading false and unfounded lies about Epps prompted the United States House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack on the UnitedStates Capitol (“January 6th Committee”) to interview Epps under oath, review the evidence, and put out a statement confirming that Epps was not a federal agent."
In full context, the complaint claims in regard to the charges against Epps,
The charges against the 62-year-old Arizona man have not been made public, and a search of the public listing of Capitol Breach Cases on the US Attorney's Office for The District of Columbia yielded no results."Finally, in May 2023, the Department of Justice notified Epps that it would seek to charge him criminally for events on January 6, 2021—two-and-a-half years later. The relentless attacks by Fox and Mr. Carlson and the resulting political pressure likely resulted in the criminal charges.
Although it is difficult to believe that the Department of Justice would have pursued this matter if Fox had not focused its lies on Epps, ultimately the criminal charges conclusively demonstrate the falsehood of the story that Mr. Carlson and Fox told about Epps.
Epps was not a federal agent. He was a loyal Fox viewer and Trump supporter. Had the Department of Justice charged Epps in 2021, Mr. Carlson would have hailed Epps a hero. Instead, Fox and Mr. Carlson made Epps the central figure in a lie they concocted about January 6, 2021. After destroying Epps’s reputation and livelihood, Fox will move on to its next story, while Ray and Robyn live in a 350-square foot RV and face harassment and fear true harm. Fox must be held accountable."
During a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray also refused to answer questions regarding Epps and any potential charges against him saying, “I’m not going to engage here in a discussion about individual people who are or are not going to be prosecuted,” according to The Daily Wire.
This is a developing story and further updates will be published by the DC Enquirer as they arise.
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