During a House Administration subcommittee session on Tuesday, concerns were raised regarding the failure of Secret Service sweeps to detect a pipe bomb planted near the Democratic National Committee headquarters before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., presented videos depicting a Secret Service agent and a bomb-sniffing dog conducting sweeps near the location of the pipe bomb earlier that day. Despite these efforts, Capitol Police discovered the bomb around 1:07 p.m. on Jan. 6.
Loudermilk highlighted that two Secret Service K-9 sweeps were conducted prior to a visit by then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to the DNC, emphasizing the potential risk posed by the undetected device, which could have caused serious harm if detonated.
The Oversight Subcommittee convened the hearing to assess the law enforcement response to the pipe bombs discovered at the DNC and Republican National Committee headquarters on Jan. 6. Rep. Norma Torres of California criticized the majority for not sharing all the footage with the minority, while Rep. Joseph D. Morelle of New York questioned the decision to hold a public discussion on an ongoing federal criminal investigation.
Loudermilk clarified that the hearing aimed to understand the events of Jan. 6 and identify areas for improvement, rather than interfere with the FBI’s investigation into the pipe bomber. The FBI has offered a $500,000 reward for information leading to the perpetrator’s arrest.
The suspect planted the pipe bombs near the RNC and DNC between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2021. Capitol Police Assistant Chief Sean Gallagher testified about the department’s response and acknowledged the need for improvement, citing challenges faced during the Capitol riot.
Gallagher highlighted the lack of a perimeter near the RNC pipe bomb, stressing the need for enhanced security measures. Despite the difficulties encountered, Gallagher emphasized the department’s commitment to addressing shortcomings and improving overall performance since the events of Jan. 6.
The Secret Service did not provide an immediate response to inquiries regarding the incident.