Ryan Samsel, a persecuted J6er who spent several years in prison, much of it in solitairy, is in need of surgeries resulting from abuses suffered at the hands of Bureau of Prison officers. His insurance has denied full coverage of these surgeries. If you would like to read about Samsel’s story and donate, click here.
The Gateway Pundit had obtained, exclusively, a recording of the first-known interview of James “Ray” Epps after the protest at the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021.
The Gateway Pundit’s Alicia Powe has previously reported on some of the discoveries from this recording in a three-part series on The Gateway Pundit (part 1, part 2 and part 3).
The interview was conducted at the office of John Blischak, Epps’ attorney, on March 3, 2021 by Agents Alexander Simms and Rob Kalinowski (sp?). It was a voluntary interview that followed his January 8th phone call to the FBI regarding his placement on the “Most Wanted” list at #16.
“We Need More People”
The first major discrepancy in Epps’ testimony is something The Gateway Pundit published exclusively after receiving a statement from Ryan Samsel’s co-defendant, James Grant once he was clear of the Department of Justice’s wrath.
Epps, during his interview with the FBI, said that he told Samsel, “That’s not why we’re here…don’t be doing that.” Grant, and Samsel (following the J6 pardons), confirmed that Epps said “We need more people.” In fact, it is evident on the YouTube video from that day.
Ironically, according to the New York Times, Ryan Samsel told the FBI in January 2021 that when Epps whispered in his ear shortly before pushing the barricades, “his entire words were ‘Relax, the cops are just doing their job.‘”
The New York Times wrote that they obtained a recording of this interview, however, they did not publish the recording and when asked to review it, they did not respond.
Samsel did acknowledge that he had an informal interview with the FBI on January 30th, 2021, in which they provided him with coffee and a fresh can of Copenhagen Mint, his chew of choice.
During that interview, according to Samsel, the FBI was trying to convince him to confess that Epps was the “voice of reason.” When Samsel asked what charges he was facing, the agents responded that it was up to him, but he could possibly face conspiracy to murder an officer.
He then immediately requested an attorney, at which time things began to turn. The Copenhagen-gifting FBI agents became more typical of what we are accustomed to regarding treatment of J6ers.
I have received a never-before-published recording of James Ray Epps March 3, 2021 interview with the FBI.
This is the first known interview conducted by authorities and took place just over two months after the events on that day. This is the ‘freshest’ those events should be in… pic.twitter.com/5YKN50E6Q9
— CannCon (@CannConActual) March 3, 2025
Officer Caroline Edwards
Moments after Epps had whispered in Samsel’s ear, the crowd around Epps pushed the bike rack barricades back and forth and caused US Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards to fall backwards towards the steps and hit her head.
According to Epps’ interview, he had attempted to help Edwards up off the ground before being a policeman “came over with a club” causing him to “back off.”
According to video evidence, that is not at all the case. In fact, Epps can be seen in the frame looking directly at Edwards after she’d been pushed to the ground. The camera pans to Edwards and then pans back to where Epps was standing. Poof. Gone.
Samsel, however, rushed to help Edwards and is seen lifting her up off the ground before other officers came to take Edwards away.
Epps isn’t seen in that footage anywhere near Edwards after he had whispered in Samsel’s ear and the barricade was pushed back.
The next questionable statement made to the FBI involves Officer Caroline Edwards, who was knocked back when the bike racks were pushed.
Epps stated that he tried to help her but was threatened by another officer with a night stick. Epps even said that he spoke to the officer… pic.twitter.com/fmF35i0PVW
— CannCon (@CannConActual) March 3, 2025
The Second (Technically, Third) Breach
In the next inaccurate statement Epps made to the FBI, he claimed that after leaving the barricade where he whispered to Samsel, he approached the Capitol steps and another police barricade.
In the interview, Epps claimed that, “As looking at the Capitol, I was on the right side of that,” referring to the scaffold tower. Epps claimed that “that section fell last because of me. Because I tried to keep them from doing it.”
Again, this is not a factual statement. In fact, footage obtained from M5News of a ‘birds-eye view’ of the crowd, Epps can be seen on the left side of the scaffolding. Also contrary to Epps’ statement, the side he was on was actually breached first. And right next to where he was seen standing in the footage.
The right side where Epps claimed to be was far less populated at the time, but ultimately got through following the left-side breach.
Epps said that he was to the right of the scaffolding as you look at the Capitol and that his side fell last because of him.
In fact, Epps was on the left as you face the Capitol and his side fell first. In fact, the breach was right next to him.
Again. pic.twitter.com/ZIgCSvCtU1
— CannCon (@CannConActual) March 3, 2025
These are three very significant misstatements from Epps during his testimony that paint a picture of him primarily de-escalating in three unique situations when, in reality, his actions were more like provocations.
Telling Samsel “we need more people,” disappearing when Officer Edwards was on the ground, and then conveniently being within feet of the breach at the scaffold tower all call into question his actions on that day.
And this doesn’t begin to take into account Epps telling a crowd on the night of January 5th that he “can’t say it because [he] might get arrested” but that “we need to go into the Capitol!” Or yelling to the crowd leaving the Ellipse rally that “the Capitol is that way” and “that’s where our problems lie.”
Epps counsel, John Blischak, is also on the FBI’s interview recording implying that he had been to “a bar or two” with Agent Simms the previous night. Simms denied the engagement immediately. Blischak then asks if he’s still recording and states, “well, I’ve got nothing to hide.”
Blischak is an Arizona-based attorney and former FBI agent (in the 1970s and early 1980s) who boasts on his firms website that his “biggest asset is his relation with prosecutors and law enforcement in ways other lawyers cannot because of his background.”
WOAH…
Ray Epps’ attorney, John Blischak, a former FBI agent in the late 70s and early 80s, said he met with the Special Agent questioning Epps “at a bar or two,” which Agent Simms quickly denies while on the record.
Blischak then says “oh, you’re still recording??”… pic.twitter.com/iGXrPiykeR
— CannCon (@CannConActual) March 3, 2025
Thread:
I have received a never-before-published recording of James Ray Epps March 3, 2021 interview the FBI.
This is the first known interview conducted by authorities and took place just over two months after the events on that day. This is the ‘freshest’ those events should be in… pic.twitter.com/5YKN50E6Q9
— CannCon (@CannConActual) March 3, 2025
The Gateway Pundit author Alicia Powe released Ray Epps’s interview with the FBI back in April 2024.
The post Several Statements in Ray Epps First In-Person FBI Recording From March 2021 Calls Into Question Several Key Issues From Epps’ Testimony appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.