The FBI says it is drawing closer to identifying the suspect who planted pipe bombs near party headquarters in Washington the night before the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi were both inside or near DNC headquarters when a pipe bomb was discovered on January 6, 2021, yet the search for the person responsible has dragged on for years.

According to Fox News, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino told viewers on “FOX & Friends” that the bureau is “closing in on some suspects” after a renewed push to solve the high-profile case. His comments come after the release of new video evidence and renewed criticism over how the Biden administration previously handled the investigation.

Federal investigators have spent years chasing leads, reviewing hours of surveillance footage, and interviewing witnesses, but the identity of the suspect who planted explosive devices outside both the Democratic and Republican National Committee offices in Washington, D.C., remains a mystery. The FBI, now under the direction of Bongino and Director Kash Patel, says the case is a top priority amid mounting public pressure.

Case reignited by new evidence

The FBI’s renewed interest in the pipe bomb case started earlier this year when investigators released never-before-seen footage showing the suspect near both party headquarters. Authorities also shared new details, including that the suspect is believed to be about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, wearing a gray hoodie, face mask, black gloves, and Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes.

Bongino has not been shy about his frustration with the previous lack of urgency. He criticized what he called the “partisan actors” in the Biden administration who, despite making the Capitol riot a national focus, seemed uninterested in solving the pipe bomb mystery. More than 1,000 people have been arrested and convicted for the events of January 6, but the person who planted these potentially deadly devices has so far evaded justice.

The FBI’s new approach emphasizes public involvement, with Bongino highlighting the importance of tips from social media. He noted that every time the bureau posts about the case online, new leads come in, and he hinted that a particularly promising tip was recently received, though he would not confirm if it was related to the pipe bomb case.

Top officials face scrutiny

The timing of the renewed investigation has raised eyebrows, especially among conservatives who have long questioned the bureau’s priorities under the Biden White House. Bongino’s comments suggest a stark contrast between the current leadership and their predecessors, whom he accused of neglecting the case. Bongino said: “We were told by partisan actors out there, this was the insurrection, the world was [going to] fall apart, and no one seemed to show any interest in this case.”

Many conservatives argue that the focus on prosecuting Capitol protesters overshadowed real threats, like the pipe bomb plot, that could have caused mass casualties. Critics of the previous administration say the FBI’s slow progress has undermined public trust and left key questions unanswered about who may have been behind the attempted attack.

Others, including supporters of Biden-era officials, claim the case was always a challenge given the lack of clear identifying evidence. They point out that the suspect’s face was obscured and that, despite thousands of hours of footage and over 1,000 interviews, no clear suspect emerged. Still, conservatives maintain that more could have been done much sooner.

Rewards and public involvement surge

Authorities have repeatedly called for public assistance in identifying the pipe bomb suspect. The FBI is offering a $500,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, underscoring the seriousness of the case and the dangers posed by the explosives, which could have caused mass casualties if detonated.

Bongino and Director Patel have made public outreach a central part of their strategy, using social media, press conferences, and news appearances to encourage tips. The bureau’s recent release of surveillance videos has sparked renewed interest, and investigators say they have followed hundreds of leads as a result.

While no one was injured in the 2021 incident, the bombs were discovered just before they could have caused significant harm. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was reportedly inside the DNC offices when the device was found, and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi passed by the scene minutes before the bomb was safely defused.

Justice could be close for pipe bomb suspect

Dan Bongino, now serving as FBI Deputy Director, has brought new urgency and public scrutiny to the investigation into the January 6 pipe bombs. With new video evidence, updated suspect descriptions, and a $500,000 reward on the table, authorities are making it clear that the case remains a top priority in Washington, D.C.

The FBI says it is “closing in on some suspects,” and promises that any new tip could be the one that finally brings the perpetrator to justice.

As the investigation ramps up, Americans—including those who were put in harm’s way that day—await the answer to a question that has lingered for more than four years: who planted the bombs, and why did it take so long to find them?