A harrowing incident of national security involving Vice President Kamala Harris has flown under the media radar.
According to Declassified, on January 6, 2021, a live pipe bomb was discovered close to Vice President Kamala Harris at the DNC, necessitating her swift evacuation.
Vice President Harris, on that perilous afternoon, unknowingly faced an immediate threat just yards away as she engaged at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. The explosive device was located approximately two hours into her visit.
Detailed Account of the Security Breach
It was a plainclothes Capitol Police officer who stumbled upon the sinister device at around 1:05 p.m., positioned unnervingly close, about 9 feet from the building's wall. Just 20 feet away was the central driveway leading to a garage where the vice president’s transportation could have been a target.
Evacuation protocols began promptly, with the vice president being safely escorted away by 1:17 p.m. This event coincided with another alarming discovery of a similar device at the Republican National Committee building, escalating tensions and concerns over a coordinated attack.
Federal Response and Media Silence
The seriousness of the threat was confirmed by the FBI, labeling the found pipe bomb as viable and deadly, an unmistakable signal of the lethal intent behind the placement. Joseph Cuffari, the DHS Inspector General, later criticized the Secret Service’s response, particularly for not having explosives experts on-site immediately.
This significant security breach garnered minimal attention from major news outlets, a concerning oversight when considering the magnitude of the potential damage. Even more troubling was the initial misinformation provided by the Department of Justice regarding Vice President Harris’s location during the incident, which was only corrected during court proceedings.
Investigative Failures and Consequences
Joseph Cuffari’s report also shed light on a distressing aspect of the investigation - the criminal deletion of crucial text messages by two dozen Secret Service officials, messages that could have potentially provided more insights into the incident. The deletions have resulted in an irreversible loss of crucial forensic evidence.
Despite its severity, neither the vice president's office nor major media outlets have substantially revisited or highlighted the incident, raising questions about the prioritization of such national security threats in public discourse.
The silence resonates particularly loudly given the context of January 6th, a day marked by chaos and unprecedented attacks on democratic processes at the U.S. Capitol.
Conclusion
As we reflect on the events of January 6, 2021, the close call experienced by Vice President Kamala Harris at the DNC headquarters stands as a stark reminder of the constant threats faced by public figures.
The minimal media coverage and the subsequent lack of discussion about such a critical incident are as disconcerting as the event itself.
This story, its handling by the authorities, and the coverage it did not receive speaks volumes about the complexities of national security and the narratives shaped around it.
