Former Government Employee Charged With Falsely Accusing Coworkers of Participating in Jan. 6 Capitol Attack
A former government employee with ties to federal intelligence agencies was arrested in Virginia Thursday and accused of sending fake tips to the FBI in which he falsely accused multiple coworkers of taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach, newly unsealed court documents revealed.
Investigators alleged in court records that Miguel Zapata anonymously submitted information about seven individuals with whom he had once worked in the months after the attack, writing that they “espoused conspiracy theories” and “took part in the insurrection.”
According to prosecutors, between February and April 2021, Zapata allegedly concocted fake stories about his former coworkers’ involvement in the events of Jan. 6 and submitted them via the FBI’s anonymous tip line that has been used to gather information following the Capitol breach. Over 1,300 individuals have so far been charged for their alleged involvement.
“These tips variously alleged that the government employees and contractors were physically present at or involved in the attack at the Capitol or had shared classified information with individuals and groups present at the riot with the intent to assist these groups in overthrowing the United States government,” charging documents said.
Zapata is accused of sending the home addresses, full names, and security clearance levels of his former colleagues to the FBI, which prompted the FBI and some of the victims’ employers to launch investigations into their alleged conduct based on the faulty information. (Read more from “Former Government Employee Charged With Falsely Accusing Coworkers of Participating in Jan. 6 Capitol Attack” HERE)
