Outrage after ex-FBI agent Janeen DiGuiseppi misidentified as woman sitting behind Trump during shooting

ALBANY, NEW YORK: A former leading FBI agent was incorrectly identified on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media platforms by individuals who alleged she was seated behind former President Donald Trump during the assassination attempt at the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Numerous posts on X, frequently from anonymous sources citing non-existent "reports," incorrectly identified Janeen DiGuiseppi as a rally attendee seated behind the former president when the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a nearby rooftop. 

FBI confirms that the woman seen in viral video is not Janeen DiGuiseppi

In a statement to the Times Union on Friday, July 19, the FBI confirmed that the woman seen in the widely-circulated video is not Janeen DiGuiseppi, who served as the special agent in charge of the Albany office for two years, concluding last summer.

"The allegations circulating on social media about an FBI executive and the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania are categorically false," stated the agency. 

It added, "To be clear, the person depicted is not her and she did not attend the rally. The men and women of the FBI work tirelessly and selflessly to protect others every day, and false rumors and conspiracy theories targeting these dedicated public servants are reprehensible and irresponsible."

"They are also dangerous and often lead to threats against them and their families. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to hold accountable anyone who makes violent threats against them or any of our colleagues in law enforcement," concluded the statement. 

Donald Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks is believed to have acted alone 

The false allegations regarding Janeen DiGuiseppi were noticed by the Times Union on Friday morning after a 2023 article about her career shot to the top of the publication's most-read web stories list. 

In the viral video from the rally, an unidentified woman is seen calmly taking out her cell phone, seemingly to record the event, as Secret Service agents surrounded Trump to rush him offstage.

The woman's composed behavior has inexplicably led some conspiracy theorists to speculate about her involvement in the incident.

Although the Secret Service has faced significant criticism on how they handled things during the assassination attempt— which resulted in the death of a former fire chief Corey Comperatore and left two others gravely injured — there is no credible evidence to suggest the involvement of anyone other than the 20-year-old gunman.

DiGuiseppi, an Air Force veteran who began her career with the FBI in 1999, departed from Albany last summer to take on a new role as the Assistant Director of the Bureau's Insider Threat Office in Washington, DC.

Internet reacts as the FBI confirms that woman seen behind Donald Trump during assassination attempt isn't Janeen DiGuiseppi 

Soon after the FBI issued a statement regarding the misidentification of Janeen DiGuiseppi, netizens sounded alarm on such conspiracy theories. 

One wrote, "Baseless conspiracies do not help. Speculation is okay and warranted, but what I’ve seen over the past few days just astounds me. People should focus on actual fact-finding and not what will get them the most clicks." 

"FBI sure was quick to solve that!" remarked a person and someone else added, "Don't always believe what you see online."

"Innocent people are going to get hurt if this information vacuum continues and we are forced to fill in the blanks on our own," noted an individual. 

"Everybody’s normal reaction to every thing is to pull their phone out and record," pointed out another person, while one more said, "It’s a shame we feel the need to speculate at all." 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.