Fact Check: An Arizona State Rep Claims Antifa Members Were ‘Confirmed’ to be at the Capitol

Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem released a statement in which he claimed “the use of facial recognition software” proved Antifa was present at the storming of the Capitol. He also wrote that participants were “positively identified as Antifa infiltrators.”

There is still no evidence that Antifa infiltrated the riot. Finchem appears to be referencing the already-debunkedWashington Times article that claimed that facial recognition software company XRVision identified two Antifa members among the rioters. They didn’t—in fact XRVision says it identified two neo-Nazis. As outlined at length in a previous fact check, numerous Trump supporters have been identified among those who stormed the Capitol. While it remains possible that out of the thousands of individuals present during the riot some may have been Antifa members, there’s nothing to suggest they led or incited the riot. In fact, Trump supporters discussed violence and attacking Congress at length in the lead-up to January 6 on pro-Trump discussion boards and social media platforms as well. And some known Trump supporters photographed and took video of their participation in the assault.

On Saturday, Jessica Davis, a press representative for the FBI, told The Dispatch Fact Check: “At this time we have no credible intelligence suggesting Antifa involvement in Wednesday’s criminal activity. However, the investigation is ongoing and we are aggressively working to identify all individuals involved, no matter their association.” Other officials with the FBI and the Department of Justice have made similar statements denying evidence of Antifa’s participation in the attack on Congress. 

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