Fact check: Active-duty Navy JAG officer Benjamin France is under fire for threatening ICE agents and January 6 protesters, stating he will “hunt down every Jan 6er and ICE agent.”

1. Summary of the results

The original statement is confirmed by multiple sources. Active-duty Navy JAG officer Benjamin France is indeed under fire for making threatening statements against ICE agents and January 6 protesters ^{[1] [2]}. Multiple sources confirm that France posted on his X (Twitter) account stating he will "hunt down every J6 and ICE agent" ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

The Navy is currently investigating the situation ^[1]. Additionally, France has been reported for making derogatory comments about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ^[3], which adds another dimension to the controversy beyond the original statement's scope.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks important contextual information about the broader climate surrounding ICE operations and January 6-related tensions:

• Escalating violence against ICE agents: The Department of Homeland Security has released statements about increased violence against ICE officers from protesters confronting immigration enforcement actions ^{[4] [5]}. This suggests France's threats occurred within a broader pattern of hostility toward ICE agents.
• Recent ICE raid tensions: NPR reports that ICE raids have grown increasingly tense as protesters confront immigration agents in various cities ^[5], providing context for why threats against ICE agents are particularly concerning at this time.
• FBI domestic terrorism concerns: The FBI has identified fringe conspiracy theories as domestic terrorist threats ^[6], which may influence how France's statements are being evaluated by military authorities.

The statement also omits that France's comments extended beyond the quoted threat to include personal attacks on high-ranking Defense Department officials.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains a slight misquote. While the statement claims France said he will "hunt down every Jan 6er and ICE agent," the actual quote from multiple sources is "hunt down every J6 and ICE agent" ^{[1] [2] [3]}. The abbreviation "J6" rather than "Jan 6er" is the precise language used.

The statement is otherwise factually accurate but presents the information in isolation without acknowledging the broader context of tensions between protesters and ICE agents, or the additional controversy surrounding France's comments about Defense Secretary Hegseth. This selective presentation could benefit those seeking to minimize the broader pattern of threats against federal law enforcement while maximizing focus on this single incident.