The unresolved case of pipe bombs planted near the RNC and DNC headquarters on Jan. 5, 2021, has taken a new turn as cell providers dispute a key FBI claim. The bureau previously cited corrupted phone data as a barrier to identifying the suspect, but lawmakers are now questioning that explanation.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, chair of the House Administration Oversight Subcommittee, says major phone carriers have denied providing corrupted data to the FBI. “Every major cell carrier responded and confirmed that they did not provide the FBI corrupted data,” Loudermilk told Just the News. He has since requested clarification from FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Surveillance footage from the night shows a suspect planting a device near the DNC before walking away. Despite interviewing over 800 individuals and receiving more than 300 tips, the FBI has not made an arrest. Lawmakers argue that this lack of progress is troubling given the tools and evidence available.
Loudermilk’s inquiry includes questions about whether the FBI informed carriers of the alleged data corruption and if additional steps were taken to address the issue. The subcommittee is pushing for transparency, particularly given the public’s ongoing doubts about the investigation.
The bombs, defused before they could detonate, remain an unsettling aspect of Jan. 6-related events. Critics have noted that the FBI has successfully identified and prosecuted others with far less evidence, raising concerns about its handling of the pipe bomb case.
As the four-year anniversary of the incident approaches, pressure is mounting for the FBI to provide answers. Lawmakers argue that resolving the case is essential to rebuilding public trust in federal law enforcement.
