Former DIA deputy director Doug Wise discusses US military intelligence in Ukraine and WRC-TV investigative reporter Scott MacFarlane provides updates on the January 6th probes. They cover issues such as the involvement of military intelligence in localized conflicts, the ongoing investigation into the Capitol attack, and the concerning trend of intelligence professionals aligning with extremist groups.
US military intelligence plays a major role in Ukraine, including providing aid and weapons.
Investigations into the January 6th Capitol insurrection are complex and still in the early stages for higher-tier defendants.
Unanswered questions remain in the January 6th investigations, such as the identity of the person who left pipe bombs and the extent of right-wing group involvement.
Deep dives
Escalating military aid to Ukraine
Reports suggest increased British and US military intelligence aid to Ukraine, including shoulder-fired Stinger missiles. This signifies a major role for US military intelligence in Ukraine.
Investigations into the events of January 6th
Michael Fanon, a DC police officer injured during the Capitol insurrection, called out lawmakers for downplaying the events of that day. The investigations surrounding January 6th are complex and the cases of higher tier defendants accused of assault and conspiracy are still in their early stages.
Challenges in processing evidence for January 6th prosecutions
The massive volume of evidence collected for the January 6th investigations has presented challenges in processing and readying the evidence for court. Trials and guilty pleas have mostly been focused on lower-level defendants, while cases involving higher-level defendants and the more provocative incidents are just beginning.
Unanswered questions and ongoing investigations
There are still unanswered questions in the investigations into January 6th. For example, the person who left pipe bombs outside the Capitol remains unidentified. Additionally, the dimensions of the involvement of right-wing groups like Oath Keepers and Proud Boys are still being discovered. There is ongoing scrutiny about the source of money and the legal defense funding for defendants.
Capitol Police and the future of security
The Capitol Police have new leadership and have made changes to improve their public image and PR. However, they still face challenges in staffing and recruiting due to the impact of the events on January 6th. There are ongoing discussions about training and equipping the police force to enhance security. The response of US intelligence to the January 6th attack is seen as a significant success, particularly in adapting to the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Former DIA deputy director Doug Wise talks with Jeff Stein about the role of US military intelligence in Ukraine, and WRC-TV investigative reporter Scott MacFarlane updates Jeanne Meserve on the Jan. 6 probes.