A handful of GOP members of Congress demanded an update on the January 6 pipe-bomb investigation in a letter addressed to FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday evening. The letter revealed that the FBI used nearby surveillance to identify a license plate number from a vehicle the suspect was seen entering. While this key piece of information is reportedly in the bureau’s possession, the FBI has not named a suspect at the time of this report.
On January 5, 2021, an unidentified male was seen placing what appeared to be two pipe-bombs near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in Washington, D.C.
While FBI whistleblower Kyle Seraphin later revealed that the bureau knew the devices were inoperable, the incident has been repeatedly referenced by left-wing entities as an example of domestic terrorism committed by Trump supporters. Given the Biden DOJ’s aggressive prosecution of January 6 protesters –hundreds of whom have been sentenced to prison time for simple trespassing charges — the department and FBI do not appear to be in a hurry to find the pipe-bomb suspect.
In Wednesday’s letter, U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Bill Posey (R-FL) and Jim Jordan (R-OH) demanded an update on the FBI’s investigation into the incident. “As part of our oversight investigation into the pipe bombs placed near the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee on January 5, 2021. At the start of the 118th Congress on January 17, 2023, we reiterated this request. To date, you have failed to comply,” reads the letter.
#NEWS: @Jim_Jordan, @RepAndyBiggsAZ, and @congbillposey Press FBI for Information on January 6 Pipe Bomb Investigation.
One former FBI assistant director observed, “[i]t just doesn’t add up . . . [t]here’s just too much to work with to not know who this guy is.” pic.twitter.com/ZVpwEkhS0r
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) May 24, 2023
The committee requested the briefing after a senior FBI whistleblower raised questions and concerns about the “unusual” nature of the FBI’s investigation into the matter. According to the whistleblower disclosure, the FBI’s Washington Field Office asked field office officials to canvass all confidential human sources nationwide for information about the crime and the suspect over a year after the bombs were placed. FBI officials requested the canvas “include sources reporting on all [types of] threats” because the suspect’s “motives and ideology remain unknown.”
“Your failure to comply with our request is particularly concerning given recent media reports regarding the pipe bomb investigation,” the letter continued.
According to at least one report from a former FBI agent who worked on the case, the letter explains, the FBI linked the suspected pipe-bomber to a MetroRail SmarTrip card that the suspect used to travel through the D.C. metro system to a stop in Northern Virginia.
The FBI then used security camera footage from the Northern Virginia metro stop to identify the license plate of a car the suspect entered. To date, the FBI has yet to name a suspect in the case.
One former assistant FBI director observed “it just doesn’t add up,” according to the letter. “There’s just too much to work with to not know who this guy is.”
“The slow progression of the FBI’s investigation into the January 6 pipe bombs raises significant concerns about the FBI’s prioritization of that case in relation to other January 6 investigations,” Jordan, Biggs and Posey wrote. “Accordingly, we reiterate our outstanding request that you provide this briefing as soon as possible, but no later than June 7, 2023.”