FACT CHECK: Image Shows Rioter With Vape, Not Federal Badge
An image shared on X claims to show a Jan. 6 rioter with a federal badge.
Why they hid the JAN 6th tapes ⁉️ ENLARGE THE CIRCLE 👇‼️ pic.twitter.com/iotAC3fb3l
— Luca 1 (@lucaforsure) June 25, 2024
Verdict: False
The image likely shows the rioter with a vape, not a federal badge.
Fact Check:
Social media users are sharing an image of a man, claiming it shows him flashing a federal badge while he’s posing as a rioter. The text in the image reads, “This is why they didn’t want us to see the tapes. Fed disguised as Trump supporter.”
This claim is false. The image shows Chris Lyons, a rioter who was sentenced to 4 years in prison for his role in the January 6th attack, according to AFP Fact Check. He was an HVAC technician, not a federal agent, the outlet reported.
Ryan Reilly, an NBC News journalist, identified the item in his hand as a vape, not a badge, in a November 19 tweet. (RELATED: Did Daily Mail Report That Prince William Called Camilla’ C*** Consort’?)
Actually he’s not a cop, he’s holding a vape, and he’s got a photo he stole from Nancy Pelosi’s office hidden under there. He’s been sentenced to four years in prison. Nice try tho! https://t.co/ydJQWoKJKA pic.twitter.com/dGNX0UpizL
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) November 19, 2023
Sedition Hunters, a group that describes itself as “hunting and distributing clear face images of those that stormed the Capitol,” said that the image showed him with a vape.
This is the newest garbage coming out of the #J6Release This is Kevin James Lyons holding a VAPE He was sentenced to 51 months in prison for his activities on #J6 https://t.co/eCxS3MDU4p pic.twitter.com/jtpW4bVmRi
— SeditionHunters (@SeditionHunters) November 19, 2023
The image originates from a video released by the House Committee on House Administration. Court documents show that he was wearing the same outfit during the attack.
