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Ibrahim reportedly told investigators from the Justice Ministry’s Inspector General’s office that he did not show his DEA badge or gun during the protest, but an affidavit in support of the charges against him. tells her that he posed for several photos in which he appeared to be deliberately showing his badge. as well as the weapon locked on his hip. Two were included in the court file.
After media reported in March that Ibrahim had been on Capitol Hill, his lawyer Darren Richie admitted that the DEA suspended Ibrahim for his presence at the event.
“Mr. Ibrahim was not a part of, affiliated with or participated in any intrusion or violent act and vehemently denounces them,” Richie told various news outlets in March. He also claimed that Ibrahim had helped authorities by making videos of what happened on Capitol Hill that day.
On Tuesday, Richie told POLITICO that “Ibrahim did not play any role in any riot. He never committed violence, attempted to enter any building, or incited or encouraged others. to do so, “and that” the indictment is the result of conjecture, political pressure and a mistaken attempt to paint a specific narrative through images taken completely out of context. “
Ibrahim’s status at the DEA is unclear. The affidavit that an inspector general of the Department of Justice submitted to the court indicated that Ibrahim was a “probation employee” of the DEA at the time of the riot and had indicated his intention to resign several weeks earlier . Senior Special Agent Jason Higley said Ibrahim was on personal leave Jan.6 and “was off duty for the DEA and had no role as a law enforcement officer in the field. of the Capitol “.
Higley said Ibrahim told investigators he traveled to the Washington events with a friend who the FBI asked to document the event. The friend denied this account and said the FBI was not giving him any instructions or marching orders, the agent inspector general said.
The friend also said Ibrahim attended the rally to promote a political podcast “Liberty Tavern” and a cigar brand he was planning to launch.
Photos taken during the protest show Ibrahim carrying a pole bearing both the American flag of the 13 states designed by Betsy Ross and a white flag emblazoned with a single blue star and the words “Liberty or Death”.
According to Higley, Ibrahim was in WhatsApp chat with at least five other law enforcement officers on the day of the riot and sent several photos of him. At one point in the afternoon, one of the other officers wrote to Ibrahim: “Question mark, are you carrying your service weapon and badge / credits? I need to know this brand.
In an interview with the Inspector General’s office in March, Ibrahim admitted to having these items with him, but denied showing them. “I had my credits. I had my gun and my badge with me. . . But never exhibited. . . Not to my knowledge, ”he said, according to Higley.
DEA spokespersons did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While more than 500 people have been charged with illegally entering the Capitol building, federal charges have been rare against those who simply crossed police lines outside the building, although some have been charged with clashes with the police or destruction of property.
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