FOIA Lawsuit Seeks FBI Records on Ray Epps' Removal from Most Wanted List Amid Persistent Jan. 6 Questions

A New Jersey journalist has filed a federal lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act to compel the FBI to release records detailing why Ray Epps was removed from its Most Wanted list shortly after January 6, 2021, and any communications involving Epps from 2020 to 2025. Yehuda Miller submitted the FOIA request in April 2025 on behalf of The Gateway Pundit, seeking internal directives, communications between the FBI and Epps, and explanations for his disparate treatment compared to other participants. The FBI denied the request on privacy grounds, prompting the lawsuit filed in federal court. Miller argues that public interest in potential FBI-informant relationships or preferential treatment outweighs Epps' privacy claims, citing prior public statements by then-nominee Kash Patel questioning Epps' status. Earlier efforts include Rep. Thomas Massie's 2025 letter to the DOJ seeking similar records on Epps' Phoenix field office investigation and pre-Jan. 6 contacts. Epps, initially listed on the FBI's wanted poster with video evidence of encouraging entry into the Capitol, was later deemed to lack sufficient evidence for charges beyond a 2023 misdemeanor disorderly conduct plea resulting in probation. Mainstream reporting has framed Epps as a target of unfounded conspiracy theories, while conservative outlets highlight inconsistencies in his handling. Court documents reference the pending Miller v. Federal Bureau of Investigation action, underscoring unresolved transparency issues in the Jan. 6 probe.