Lexington County Chronicle readers might like to know the truth vs. the myths of Jan. 6. In accounts from The Hill and Reuters News Services, the FBI has found little evidence to suggest that the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was largely coordinated by supporters of former President Trump or right-wing groups. A former senior law enforcement official told Reuters that 5% “maybe of these militia groups were more closely organized. But there was no grand scheme with Roger Stone and Alex Jones and all of these people to storm the Capitol and take hostages.”

Reuters reporters spoke with 4 current and former law enforcement officials. They reported that FBI investigators noted that those involved in the far-right groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers were intent on entering the Capitol.

However, the officials who spoke with Reuters said that no coordinated plans appeared to have been established regarding what they would do once they broke in.

The wire service also reported that the FBI has found no evidence at this point proving that Trump or those close to him were involved in any coordination of the insurrection.

The FBI declined to comment on the Reuters report and referred The Hill back to court documents in the cases on the Jan. 6 events. A Democratic congressional source confirmed to Reuters that senior lawmakers are aware of the FBI’s current findings and believe the results so far are reliable.

The findings could prove relevant for the House panel that is investigating the circumstances in which Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to stop Congress from certifying President Biden’s Electoral College victory. More than 570 people allegedly involved have been arrested and 40 people are facing conspiracy charges, Reuters noted.

Kirk Wood, Lexington

Unanswered questions

Why are DDSN commissioners allowed to stay on after a judge ruled they violated the Freedom of Information Act? And what was Director Mary Poole’s failure in resolving a sexual harassment case?

As former Commissioner Deborah McPherson pointed out, Poole followed DDSN employees’ best interest by placing individuals on administrative leave, seeking legal advice, establishing a new policy and reporting to the commission chairman. What warranted firing her?

Was the director to inform the entire commission of employee personal matters which they are instructed to have no part in? Or was it a dedicated person who started out as a direct care staffer and a mother of 5 adoptees with Down’s syndrome who created a new path for DDSN that upset older state employees. They whined to several commissioners who did no followup before rendering an illegal judgement that cost taxpayers $90,000 and put a state agency in limbo. Will we ever know?

Maureen Garrison