Federal authorities released new video footage and details on Thursday in the ongoing investigation of a suspect who placed pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic National Committees the night before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The newly disclosed video depicts the suspect sitting on a bench near the Democratic National Committee (DNC) building, removing what law enforcement officials identified as a pipe bomb from their bag and placing it outside the facility. Officials also revealed the suspect’s estimated height as 5 feet 7 inches.
The investigation, now entering its fourth year, has stymied federal and local investigators despite extensive efforts. Authorities have conducted about 1,000 interviews, examined 39,000 video files, and vetted 600 tips without identifying the individual responsible.
David Sundberg, assistant director of the FBI Washington field office, said releasing new details aims to prompt someone to come forward with information.
“The tips have been very helpful, but they have not allowed us to identify a suspect yet,” Sundberg said. “So, we are releasing some subsequent information in order to hopefully jog someone’s memory or convince them that they have information that maybe they thought was not particularly important — but could actually be important.”
Sundberg acknowledged that the timing and circumstances of the incident have complicated the investigation.
“The suspect was wearing a hood, a mask, gloves — entirely covered. And that is exacerbated by what was going on in the world and the time of year,” Sundberg said. “It was January during the pandemic, so wearing lots of clothes and a mask would not have been abnormal to anyone passing this person on the sidewalk.”
The pipe bombs were placed near the Republican National Committee (RNC) and DNC headquarters between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2021, in a Capitol Hill neighborhood just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. Although the bombs did not detonate, authorities said the devices were viable and could have caused serious injury or death.
Constructed with galvanized pipes, kitchen timers, and homemade black powder, the bombs were discovered 15 hours later on Jan. 6, diverting critical resources as the Capitol riot unfolded.
Challenges in the investigation include sporadic and low-quality camera footage from the area and the delay in discovering the devices. Officials have also faced scrutiny over security lapses, including a report indicating that Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was allowed to enter and remain at the DNC for more than an hour before the pipe bomb outside was discovered.
The FBI has released close-up images of the suspect’s distinctive Nike Air Max Speed Turf sneakers and updated maps showing their route.
While some people, like Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) took to social media to solicit help from the public in finding the suspect, others are unsure about why the FBI is just now releasing the images, and why it’s taken so long to get to find the person responsible for placing the bomb when so many involved in January 6 have already been identified.
“No one can help based on this footage. You can’t see any features of the person. My trust in [the] FBI is so low this makes me wonder what their real motive is for releasing this [four] years later,” one social media user wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) in response to Swalwell’s post.
Despite doubts about finding the perpetrator, officials believe allegiances and relationships have shifted over time and are hopeful the new information might encourage someone to provide a critical tip.
“We urge anyone who may have previously hesitated to come forward, or who may not have realized they had important information, to contact the FBI,” Sundberg said. A reward of up to $500,000 is being offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submitting tips online at tips.fbi.gov. Tips can remain anonymous.
“Your information could make the difference,” Sundberg asserted.