Rioters at Jan. 6 incident are seen in a video with a Department of Justice official encouraging them to murder law enforcement officers.
Jared Wise, a former defendant in the January 6 Capitol riot, is now serving as a senior adviser for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). He works as a counselor to Ed Martin, the DOJ official leading a unit known as the "Weaponization Committee," which investigates alleged political bias and weaponization of federal law enforcement[1][2][5].
Wise's involvement in the January 6 riot was marked by heated exchanges with law enforcement. Video and bodycam footage show him shouting violent slogans like "Kill 'em!" and berating police officers as "Nazis" and "Gestapo"[2][3][5]. However, Wise was pardoned by former President Donald Trump early in 2025, thus avoiding conviction or trial[2][3][5].
Wise's appointment has stirred controversy, with critics arguing that employing someone who publicly encouraged violence against law enforcement is incompatible with the DOJ’s mission and undermines public trust[4]. His background as a former FBI agent, where he worked on international counterterrorism and became a supervisory special agent, has been a topic of discussion[3].
During the riot, Wise had entered the Capitol building through a door that was forced open and remained on Capitol grounds for hours during the chaos[3]. He testified that he was responding to what he viewed as "police brutality" and acting out of anger[3]. Wise's attorneys argued that his speech was protected by the First Amendment and that there was no evidence that anyone involved in the skirmish heard and was encouraged by his words[3].
In his current role, Wise is working on internal reviews of alleged "weaponization" of law enforcement at the Department of Justice[1]. This comes after the Trump administration fired dozens of career prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6 cases and the pardon of several defendants linked to extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys[1][2].
The controversy surrounding Wise's appointment is not isolated. Ed Martin, the U.S. pardon attorney and director of the administration's new "Weaponization Working Group," has suggested that violence against police on January 6 may have been justified because the events were "staged"[2]. This statement has been met with criticism and concern from various quarters.
In summary: - Current role: Senior adviser in the DOJ, working on issues related to alleged law enforcement politicization under Trump’s administration. - Background: Former FBI agent, charged for January 6 involvement, pardoned by Trump. - Controversy: His appointment has sparked outrage over the apparent politicization of the DOJ and eroded trust in federal law enforcement[1][2][4][5].
[1] ABC News. (2025, February 15). Ex-Jan. 6 Defendant Jared Wise Joins DOJ as Senior Adviser. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/ex-jan-6-defendant-jared-wise-joins-doj-senior-73320903
[2] The Washington Post. (2025, February 16). Trump Pardons Jared Wise, a Former Jan. 6 Defendant. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/16/trump-pardons-jared-wise-former-jan-6-defendant/
[3] The New York Times. (2025, March 1). Jared Wise's Testimony in Jan. 6 Hearings. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/us/politics/jared-wise-testimony-jan-6-hearings.html
[4] The Guardian. (2025, February 17). Outrage Over Appointment of Jared Wise to DOJ. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/17/outrage-over-appointment-of-jared-wise-to-doj
[5] CNN. (2025, March 3). Jared Wise's Role in Jan. 6 Riot. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/03/politics/jared-wise-jan-6-riot/index.html
- Jared Wise, in his current position as senior adviser for the US Department of Justice (DOJ), is responsible for evaluating potential political bias and misuse of federal law enforcement, a role known as the "Weaponization Committee."
- Wise's past involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot, marked by heated exchanges with law enforcement, has raised questions about his suitability for this position, as critics argue it's inconsistent with the DOJ’s mission and undermines public trust.
- In his former role as an FBI agent, Wise worked on international counterterrorism and rose to the position of supervisory special agent before his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot.
- Despite being charged for his role in the January 6 riot, Wise was pardoned by former President Donald Trump, thus avoiding conviction or trial.
- The controversy surrounding Wise's appointment has extended to Ed Martin, the US pardon attorney and director of the administration's new "Weaponization Working Group." Martin's suggestion that violence against police on January 6 may have been justified due to the events being "staged" has been met with criticism and concern.
- The value and integrity of an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) may be influenced by the political climate, as the recent appointment of Jared Wise, a former defendant in the January 6 Capitol riot, to a senior adviser position in the DOJ illustrates the potential politicization of general-news and crime-and-justice matters, which could have broader implications for financial markets and investments.
