Nearly four years after two pipe bombs were placed near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in Washington, D.C., the FBI has announced it is intensifying its efforts to locate the suspect by releasing new video footage showing the individual placing one of the bombs near the DNC.
The FBI, which has not yet identified any suspects or determined the motive for the attacks, also revealed on Thursday that they estimate the suspect to be around 5 feet, 7 inches tall. They have offered a reward of up to $500,000 for information that leads to the suspect's arrest and conviction.
The announcement follows a report released by congressional Republicans earlier the same day, which criticized the FBI for its inability to identify a suspect. "Despite its initial efforts, the FBI has yet to identify the suspect and has refused to provide the Subcommittees with additional information about these investigative leads," stated the interim staff report from the House Administration and Judiciary Committees.
On January 5, 2021, between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., the suspect planted the bombs in a Capitol Hill neighborhood near the RNC and DNC, just hours before the Capitol riot. The FBI confirmed that the bombs, which were discovered 15 hours later, were functional and posed a serious threat to public safety.
David Sundberg, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington field office, explained that agents, analysts, and data scientists have conducted over 1,000 interviews, reviewed approximately 39,000 video files, and assessed more than 600 tips in their search for the person responsible. One of the key pieces of evidence in the case is the suspect's footwear—Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a gold logo.
Sundberg noted that several factors have complicated the investigation. "At the time this happened, it was January, during the pandemic, so not only was the suspect wearing a hood and gloves and a mask, but that was absolutely normal then, because of the pandemic and the type of weather we have in January," he explained. "So, in addition to making it hard to recognize the suspect, it also meant that witnesses in the area wouldn’t have found this particularly odd."
Sundberg also expressed his belief that someone in the public knows who the suspect is and that, with time, individuals may be more willing to come forward. "People may have had information they didn’t think was relevant," Sundberg said. "That’s why we’re releasing new information—not just asking the public for help with tips, but providing more details to help them realize what might be important."
The FBI is urging the public to share any information about potential suspects, including biographical details, contact information, demographic information, proximity to Washington, D.C., in early January 2021, and access to materials used to build pipe bombs.
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