Published: December 28, 2021
By: Greg Woodfield
- Ray Epps, a Marine veteran, was seen in video urging a group of Trump supporters in Washington DC to 'go into the Capitol' on January 5 and 6
- DailyMail.com located Epps, 60, who is at the center of a conspiracy theory alleging he was an FBI plant sent to help incite the deadly riot
- Epps is the former president of the largest chapter of the far-right anti- government militia group the Oath Keepers
- His alleged involvement in the deadly insurrection was highlighted in the DOJ's House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing in October
- U.S Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) showed video clips of Epps repeatedly encouraging protestors on the streets of DC to 'go into' the Capitol
- Epps was seen addressing supporters on the street on January 5 saying: 'I'm probably going to go to jail for it, OK? Tomorrow, we need to go into the Capitol'
- There is no evidence that Epps, a sergeant in the military, ever entered the building himself and he was never arrested in connection to the siege
Driving a golf cart around his small and immaculate desert ranch, Ray Epps appears a man in his element.
Cattle graze contentedly as he makes his rounds of the property he's transformed into a thriving wedding venue business, focusing on the location's rustic charm.
However, the tranquil scene just outside Phoenix, Arizona, could not be in starker contrast to one in which he is also associated – the storming of the Capitol Building on January 6.
Because not only is Epps, 60, a genial host of rural weddings, he's also the former president of the largest chapter of far-right anti-government militia group the Oath Keepers and was seen in video urging supporters to 'go into the Capitol' on the day of the deadly insurrection.
He was also spotted in footage at the first barrier to fall to rioters as it was breached at 12:50pm.
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DailyMail.com can reveal Epps runs a wedding venue and hospitality business from his small ranch in Arizona where he lives with wife Robyn |
Footage shows Epps at one point, pointing behind him, adding 'It's that direction. Please spread the word' |
Epps has come under scrutiny as the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Capitol insurrection that claimed the lives of five Americans approaches |
And he was named Suspect 16 when the FBI published images in its Capitol Violence Most Wanted list of people to identify two days after the insurrection, which claimed five lives.
However, a dramatic twist has now seen him accused of an altogether different, an unproven, allegiance - that of FBI plant.
Suspicion has fallen on him from some right-wing quarters speculating a fringe theory that he was sent out to help incite the riot on behalf of the federal government.
Some on the far right hypothesize that the motive was to frame Trump supporters as domestic terrorists.
There is no evidence that Epps, who was a sergeant in the military, ever entered the building himself on that fateful day and he was never arrested in connection with the storming.
DailyMail.com located the veteran at his Rocking R Farms wedding and hospitality business, which he runs with wife Robyn, 63.
Epps was spotted by DailyMail.com riding around in his golf cart on his property in Queen Creek but bluntly refused to comment on the speculation when approached |
He spends part of his days tending his animals and driving around his neat property on an eight-seater golf cart
Epps has come under scrutiny from the right, particularly right-leaning blog Revolver who branded him a 'Fed-protected provocateur' |
The driveway entrance to the sprawling property proudly bears the name 'EPPS' |
When we arrived at the property in Queen Creek, 30 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix, to give him an opportunity to confront the extreme speculation, he bluntly refused to discuss it.
He told us: 'Get off my property'. As we endeavored to further explain, he repeated: 'Get off my property.'
Epps spends part of his days tending his animals and driving around on an eight-seater golf cart, as our exclusive pictures reveal.
He had swapped out the red Trump cap he wore in Washington for a beige Marines one. Wrapped against the desert winter chill, he appeared wary and on his guard beside the driveway entrance posts proudly bearing the name 'EPPS.'
The bucolic scene was a far cry from the howling mobs who stormed the Capitol Building and fought police shortly after then-President Trump delivered a speech to thousands of MAGA supporters at a nearby 'Stop the Steal' rally.
Epps – who was quickly identified from the January wanted list - was highlighted again in October's House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of the Department of Justice, when the FBI theory went mainstream.
U.S Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) showed video clips of Epps repeatedly encouraging protestors on the streets of DC to 'go into' the Capitol.
The 60-year-old was seen among his cattle and livestock at his farm just before the holidays |
Epps, who has never been arrested in connection with the storming, refused to address the theories surrounding his motives |
Massie linked Epps to his question asking Attorney General Merrick Garland if the government sent agents or assets to 'agitate' protestors into entering the building.
Garland said the Justice Department does not comment on pending investigations.
In the first video played to the committee, Epps is seen in the street on January 5 saying: 'In fact tomorrow, I don't even want to say it because I will probably be arrested. Tomorrow we need to go into the Capitol.'
On the same day, he is recorded saying: 'I'm going to put it out there. I'm probably going to go to jail for it, OK? Tomorrow, we need to go into the Capitol. Into the Capitol…peacefully.'
At that point some in the crowd clearly believe he is a plant and begin to chant: 'Fed! Fed! Fed!'
The following day, Epps can be seen in another clip dressed in military-style clothing and yelling to a crowd: 'OK folks, spread the word. As soon as the president is done speaking, we go to the Capitol, where our problems are.'
Pointing behind him, he adds: 'It's that direction. Please spread the word.'
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