Washington, D.C. — The political landscape in the United States has been rocked once again by the appointment of Jared Wise, a former FBI agent and January 6 defendant, as a senior advisor at the Department of Justice. Wise’s controversial new role, confirmed on August 8, 2025, has drawn intense scrutiny and reignited debate over the Trump administration’s approach to the events of January 6, 2021, as well as its pattern of polarizing government appointments.
Wise’s name is not new to those who have closely followed the aftermath of the Capitol riot. On that fateful January day in 2021, Wise was captured on video at the U.S. Capitol, urging rioters to "kill" police officers and hurling accusations at law enforcement, calling them "Nazi" and "Gestapo," according to NPR. The air around the Capitol was thick with pepper spray, and the grounds had been violently breached by pro-Trump protesters wielding bats, stun guns, and chemical sprays. Amid the chaos, Wise, who had previously served at the FBI from 2004 to 2017 in international counterterrorism, was seen berating officers who were desperately trying to hold the line and protect lawmakers. "You guys are disgusting," Wise shouted at officers, as reported by NPR. "I’m former law enforcement. You’re disgusting. You are the Nazi. You are the Gestapo."
Wise’s actions didn’t stop at verbal abuse. After a fresh wave of violence erupted, with rioters attacking officers, Wise could be heard shouting, "Kill ’em! Kill ’em! Get ’em! Get ’em!" The footage, as described in multiple reports, painted a grim picture of a former law enforcement officer seemingly egging on violence against his own colleagues. Despite this, Wise was never found guilty of any crime related to the events of January 6. He had entered the Capitol through a forced-open door, exited about ten minutes later through a broken window, and remained on the grounds for hours as the chaos continued. Charging documents confirmed his presence and actions but did not result in a conviction.
The appointment of Wise as a senior adviser at the Justice Department has left many observers stunned. Some see it as part of a broader pattern within President Donald Trump’s administration of elevating individuals with controversial backgrounds or views. According to NPR, Trump has made a point of attempting to rewrite the history of the January 6 attack, often portraying the rioters as "peaceful" and "patriotic" and even considering reparations for those convicted. The decision to bring Wise into a prominent Justice Department role seems to fit this narrative, raising fresh questions about the administration’s priorities and values.
The Wise appointment is just one of several recent moves that have drawn criticism and concern. As highlighted by Zack Linly in a piece published one day before Wise’s appointment, the Trump administration has placed a number of divisive figures in key positions. Robert Kennedy Jr., a well-known COVID conspiracy theorist and critic of mainstream medicine, was tapped as Health and Human Services Secretary. Pete Hegseth, who reportedly struggled with basic foreign policy questions during his confirmation, now leads the Department of National Defense. The list goes on: Linda McMahon, a former pro wrestling CEO, heads the Department of Education despite lacking a background in education policy. Kristi Noem, as Secretary of Homeland Security, has been criticized for her limited understanding of core constitutional principles. ICE director Thomas Homan has advocated for the arrest of those informing immigrants of their legal rights. Darren Beattie, who once argued that "competent white men must be in charge" for America to be run correctly, now serves as acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.
Perhaps most troubling to critics is the appointment of Joe Kent as director of the National Counterterrorism Center. Kent has publicly referred to the January 6 rioters as "political prisoners," echoing Trump’s own rhetoric and further blurring the line between criminal conduct and political protest in the eyes of the administration. As Linly observed, "It’s almost as if every single person serving in Trump’s Cabinet is either corrupt, incompetent, racist, a terrorist sympathizer, or — much like our president — all of the above."
The reaction to Wise’s appointment has been swift and polarized. Supporters of the Trump administration argue that Wise’s experience in counterterrorism makes him uniquely qualified for his new role. They point to his years of service at the FBI and suggest that the lack of a criminal conviction related to January 6 should be the end of the matter. For them, the controversy is just another example of what they see as a media-driven attempt to undermine the administration’s efforts to reform government and challenge entrenched interests.
On the other hand, critics see Wise’s hiring as a dangerous signal. They argue that appointing someone who openly encouraged violence against police officers during an attempted insurrection undermines the rule of law and sends a chilling message to law enforcement and the public alike. According to NPR’s reporting, the Capitol riot left officers bruised, bloodied, and, in some cases, temporarily blinded. The idea that a participant in that chaos now holds sway at the very department responsible for upholding justice is, for many, beyond the pale.
The controversy over Wise’s appointment is inseparable from the broader debate about how the events of January 6, 2021, should be remembered and addressed. President Trump has been vocal in his attempts to recast the day’s violence as justified protest, even as footage and eyewitness accounts tell a different story. The appointment of individuals like Wise and Kent, who have both expressed sympathy for the rioters, suggests that the administration is committed to this revisionist narrative.
For those who lived through the events of January 6 — whether as lawmakers, police officers, or ordinary citizens watching from home — the memory of that day remains raw. The sight of the Capitol under siege, the sounds of chaos and violence, and the images of officers struggling to protect the democratic process are not easily forgotten. The decision to bring a figure like Wise into a position of authority at the Department of Justice is, for many, a stark reminder that the struggle over the meaning and legacy of January 6 is far from over.
As the nation grapples with the implications of Wise’s appointment, one thing is clear: the choices made at the highest levels of government continue to shape not just the administration’s legacy, but the very fabric of American democracy. The debate over who should serve — and what values they should embody — is more urgent now than ever.
