Left: Federal Bureau of Investigation emblem is seen on the headquarters building in Washington, D.C., United States, on October 20, 2022. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via AP). Right: Pro-Trump protesters seen on and around Capitol building as smoke from grenade rises in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via AP)
Prosecutors in Washington, D.C., revealed in newly unsealed court records Friday that a former government employee with ties to the intelligence community has been arrested and charged with submitting fake tips about seven co-workers who he falsely claimed were involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Miguel Zapata, according to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed by an FBI Special Agent with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, falsely accused his colleagues of sharing “conspiracy theories” and “actively” engaging “in attempting to overthrow the government of the United States” on Jan. 6 and “actively [taking] part in the riot” or sharing classified information.
Zapata is accused of sending the bogus claims about his co-workers through an FBI tip form online and using a “burner,” or, effectively, a disposable email.
“None of the seven government employees and contractors were in Washington, D.C., on January 6 or attacked the Capitol,” the affidavit says.
Investigators said Zapata sent his first tip in February 2021 and didn’t stop until that April. The way they were worded, the timing of the submissions and other similar clues, like the fact that four of the tips came from the same IP address, raised the FBI’s curiosity.
“None of the seven government employees and contractors were in Washington, D.C., on January 6 or attacked the Capitol,” the affidavit says.
Court records indicate that the false accusations featured a slew of Zapata’s colleagues’ personal information including their security clearance statuses; one of his alleged victims was a former manager.
Prosecutors say they turned up a fake report sent by Zapata to one victim’s employer where he claimed the person told him, “we’re going to hang those dirty politicians and keep President Trump in office for four more years.”
Besides accusing his former colleagues of fomenting violence on Jan. 6 or actively taking part in it, he also said one individual had sympathy for, and associations with, far-right groups including the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Boogaloo Bois.
Zapata, who is charged with just one count of providing a materially false statement, made his first court appearance on Thursday before a magistrate judge in Washington, D.C., according to CBS. It is unclear when his arraignment date will be set.
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