For the past four years, conservatives have long raised questions over how the FBI investigated those suspected of participating in the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill.

Those questions are sure to grow louder following a bombshell revelation about the number of FBI personnel who were assigned to the case. 

Almost a tenth of FBI's workforce was involved in January 6 investigation

On Tuesday, CNN cited a source said to be familiar with the matter as stating that some 5,000 individuals were tasked with January 6-related activities.

CNN noted how it is not clear whether that figure was exclusively made up of agents or included other staff. The FBI employs roughly 51,000 people, of whom 13,000 are agents while the rest fill other roles.

That information was allegedly turned over to the Department of Justice, which recently ordered FBI employees to complete a questionnaire.

Details of the survey were made public this past weekend by FBI whistleblower Garret O’Boyle, who posted screenshots of its contents to social media.

Survey asked FBI employees to provide details about their involvement

One of the questions asked, "Were you a supervisor when you participated in investigation(s) or prosecution(s) of events that occurred at or near the US Capitol on January 6, 2021?"

🧵Here are the questions that @fbi employees have until 3pm et, tomorrow, to submit to @TheJusticeDept. pic.twitter.com/tdBHyEcFIc

— Garret O'Boyle (@GOBactual) February 2, 2025

Another read, "What was your role in the investigation(s) or prosecution(s) relating to events that occurred at or near the US Capitol on January 6, 2021?"

Those participating in the questionnaire were then provided with a list of multiple choice answers from which they could select.

The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) is an organization which represents FBI agents, and NBC News reported that it gave members advice on how to answer some survey questions.

Several FBI employees have filed a lawsuit over alleged "purge" of agency

However, CNN pointed out that the survey has been met by legal pushback, with several FBI employees filing a lawsuit against the DOJ.

They maintain that the DOJ is violating both the Constitution and privacy laws by facilitating a politically motivated effort to "purge" the FBI.

"The very act of compiling lists of persons who worked on matters that upset Donald Trump is retaliatory in nature, intended to intimidate FBI agents and other personnel, and to discourage them from reporting any future malfeasance and by Donald Trump and his agents," the lawsuit asserts.